The Loneliness Industry

What if therapy isn't healing you — but training you to comply?This episode of the Loneliness Industry dismantles the hidden power structures operating inside modern therapy, showing how supposedly neutral mental health practices can mirror narcissism and even narcissistic abuse. Instead of validating your lived experience, therapy often reframes structural suffering as personal pathology — turning perfectly sane reactions into signs of disorder.Drawing on thinkers like Michel Foucault, Christopher Lasch, and René Girard, public philosopher Jordan Reyne exposes how psychological institutions use gaslighting tactics to invalidate reality, demand compliance, and ultimately produce self-doubt. You’ll learn how CBT operates as a behaviour correction tool within capitalism, how the DSM functions as a cultural scapegoat machine, and why your distress may be a rational response to a sick society — not evidence that you are broken.By the end, you’ll have a diagnostic toolkit for spotting when therapy becomes compliance training, and three questions that prove you're fundamentally OK — no institutional fixing required.If you’ve ever walked out of therapy feeling like YOU are the problem for noticing the problem, this episode shows why: it was never about healing — it was about conformity.CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 00:00 What If Therapy Is Making You Feel Worse?00:30 A Case Study: Therapeutic Gaslighting05:53 Section I – The Therapy-Speak Travel Guide (and What It Really Means)11:01 Manufacturing Compliance: How Therapy Trains You to Self-Correct16:00 Weaponised Boundaries: When Mental Health Language Protects Abuse18:35 Marking the Scapegoat: Turning Sane Reactions Into “Pathology”21:03 How Therapy Became Compliance Training22:48 What Real Healing Actually Requires (According to Research)23:28 Why Society Can’t Support the Conditions Necessary for Healing25:34 How Western Capitalism Outsources Blame to the Individual27:08 The Hero Narrative: The Seductive Social Control Mechanism33:02 The Narcissistic Cycle: How the Hero Becomes the Scapegoat35:57 How Therapy Became a Mechanism of Social and Psychological Control41:16 Why CBT Is the Gold Standard of Compliance Training45:11 How Therapy Creates Power Imbalances and Authority Over Your Reality48:44 Power’s Recruitment Process: Who Gets to Define “Healthy”Theme music "The Annihilation Sequence" by Jordan ReyneAvailable on Bandcamp at http://jordanreyne.bandcamp.com

Why do so many of us feel uncomfortable in our own bodies — and why does it make us lonely? This episode looks at how modern body image culture, diet culture, and the wellness industry quietly shape our fears, routines, and relationships.Drawing on philosophy, sociology, psychology, and lived experience, I trace how body standards and appearance pressure turn into dogma: moral rules we absorb without ever choosing them. We break down how fitness culture, health trends, beauty standards, and wellness ideology create comparison, self-surveillance, and social isolation — and how those habits slowly separate us from each other.This isn't about individual willpower. It's about the cultural machinery that turns bodies into projects and belonging into a performance. If you've ever cancelled plans because of how you look, felt judged, or wondered why body image has become such a universal struggle, this episode examines the structural forces behind it — and why the body-control mindset now touches everyone.Episode exploring loneliness, power, knowledge, and how capitalism shapes our relationship with our bodies.🎯 Subscribe for bi-weekly inquiries into how capitalism shapes loneliness, identity, and belonging:    / @thelonelinessindustrypodcast  🔗 RELATED EPISODES:[Add your links to related loneliness/capitalism episodes]📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED:Eat the Rules Podcast - Summer InnanenBeyond the Mirror - Jonny LandelsMen Unscripted - Aaron FloresThe Midlife Feast - Jenn Salib Huber💬 CONNECT:[Add your social media/website links]---⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:10:25 – Today's Journey: Three Parts on Body Standards and Loneliness11:58 – Part I: Philosophy - Power, Knowledge and Body Control21:32 – Dogma's Necessary Archetypes: Good Bodies vs Bad Bodies25:02 – Case Study: L'Oréal and Beauty Standards27:18 – The Relationship Between Science and Dogma34:43 – Part II: Sociology - How We Police Each Other's Bodies36:30 – A Lived Example of Body Surveillance39:20 – In-Groups and Out-Groups: Divide and Conquer Through Body Standards44:29 – Where Sociology Meets Psychology48:50 – Capitalism's Favorite Mantra: It's All About ME51:13 – Part III: Psychology - The Internal Impact52:28 – My Personal Experience Internalizing Body Control Dogma57:48 – The Perfectionism Social Disconnection Model1:03:33 – What To Do To Get Out Of The Body Control Trap---🎓 THINKERS REFERENCED:Michel Foucault (power/knowledge, panopticon, truth regimes), Thomas Kuhn (paradigm theory), Christopher Lasch (culture of narcissism), René Girard (scapegoating mechanisms), Byung-Chul Han (achievement society), Hannah Arendt (enemy-making logic), Paul Hewitt & Gordon Flett (perfectionism research), Leon Festinger (cognitive dissonance), Karen Horney (idealized self-image), Dr. Stacy Sims (female physiology research), and more.

Welcome to The Loneliness Industry, a philosophy podcast about how capitalism’s values — individualism, competition, performance — divide us not only from each other, but from reason itself.This not-so-mini episode is your Logic 101 for the age of un-reason. It explores how dogma performs logic — how rhetorical certainty replaces curiosity — and why that performance is not just intellectually dishonest, but emotionally isolating.When curiosity is shut down, connection is shut down too. Without inquiry, there’s no genuine meeting of minds — only performance, hierarchy, and the slow creep of loneliness disguised as certainty.We revisit the Faux Terminus — a term I coined for rhetorical manoeuvres that end inquiry when curiosity is still warranted — and introduce its sleeker cousin, the Faux Terminus Paralogism, where un-reason dresses up as logic itself.All the familiar logical fallacies appear here as species of the genus Faux Terminus — each one a different choreography of conversational shutdown. Together they reveal the dance moves of dogma and how power justifies itself through performance.Along the way you’ll meet:🧠 Jordan Peterson, wielding the False Dilemma (“accept IQ tests or abandon psychology”).🔮 Joe Dispenza, master of the Scientific Paralogism and Category Error, where “quantum frequencies” prove abundance.👨‍🏫 Dr. Solo, who turns one survey into a sweeping claim about human nature — the Empirical Paralogism and False Universalisation at work.Plus the philosophical ghosts of Karl Jaspers, Thomas Kuhn, and Immanuel Kant, who frame how reason collapses into ritual.If you’ve ever heard phrases like“Science has already proven that…”“If you question this, you’re part of the problem.”“You’re just not in alignment.”then you’ve already met a Faux Terminus.🧩 Fallacies / Species of the Genus Faux TerminusAd Hominem – attack the person, not the pointTu Quoque – “you too” / hypocrisy dodgeWhataboutism – deflection through comparisonStraw Man – misrepresent to knock downMocking Dismissal – ridicule instead of reasonAppeal to Tradition – “we’ve always done it this way”Appeal to Authority – “I’m the expert here”Ad Populum – majority mirageFalse Dilemma – binary coercionAppeal to Emotion – the moral hijackProcess Shield – hiding behind bureaucracyCircular Reasoning / Begging the Question (petitio principii)Tautology – “it is what it is”Category Error, Scientific Paralogism, Systematic Paralogism, Epistemic Paralogism – the high-end, academic variants🕰️ Timestamps3:00 Un-reason & Dogma5:40 What is a Faux Terminus?6:11 Childhood Example8:30 Faux Terminus = Genus | Fallacies = Species9:03 From Unquestioned Authority to Power Struggles9:42 The Performance Aspect10:46 When Power Has to Justify Itself12:29 What is a Paralogism?14:13 Quick Summary of Definitions14:48 Taxonomy of Faux Terminii18:30 The Crude & Personal Faux Terminii24:06 The Bureaucrats of Belief26:45 The Majority Mirage & Loneliness27:47 Jordan Peterson’s False Choice32:36 Freestyle Dance Failures38:59 Paralogisms / Faux Terminus Paralogism43:07 Case Study 1 – Joe Dispenza (Scientific Paralogism)47:07 Case Study 2 – Dr. Solo (Empirical Paralogism)51:17 Which Faux Terminus? – Crib Sheet52:26 How to Keep Reason Alive🎧 Listen if you’re into:Philosophy | Logic 101 | Critical Theory | Dogmatism | Western Spiritualism | Self-Help Critique | Karl Jaspers | Thomas Kuhn | Immanuel Kant | Jordan Peterson | Joe Dispenza | Rhetoric | Fallacies | Critical Thinking | Pseudo-Science | Capitalism and Reason | Empowerment Narratives💬 “Ask: What evidence would change your mind?”If the answer is nothing, you’re not in reason-land anymore. You’re in faith-land — and the high priests wear PhDs.

What do Joe Dispenza, Jordan Peterson, and the Music Pedant at every hipster party have in common?They all kill curiosity — the one trait that fuels connection, reason, and genuine understanding.In this episode of The Loneliness Industry, public philosopher Jordan Reyne unpacks how capitalism, science, and self-help culture all feed the same mechanism Karl Jaspers called “un-reason” — the death of curiosity. Using humour, philosophy, and real-world examples, Reyne reveals how “fake endings” in conversation (the faux terminus) shut down inquiry, divide people into in-groups and out-groups, and keep power, profit, and prestige intact.Through comedic dialogues with:The Music Pedant (the gatekeeper of cool),The Western Spiritualist (the holier-than-thou salesman), andJordan Peterson (the tool-defender of failing paradigms),this episode maps how dogma replaces curiosity across science, spirituality, and social life — and how that loss of curiosity isolates us from each other.Part one explores how inquiry dies; part two will follow where profit thrives when it does — in beauty, health, and self-improvement industries.🧩 What’s CoveredJust how vital curiosity is to connection, intimacy, knowledge and understanding. Why an absence of curiosity is literally un-reasonableThe meaning of un-reason and why Karl Jaspers saw curiosity as essential to reason itselfHow Thomas Kuhn’s paradigm theory explains scientific “stuck phases” and dogmatic backlashWhy capitalism kills curiosity (Adorno & Horkheimer’s critique of market-driven knowledge)How “tools” like IQ tests and BMI become holy grails defending broken paradigmsExamples of faux termini — conversational “fake full stops” that shut down dialogue.How un-reason drives loneliness and alienation by replacing connection with performanceA six-question “Faux-Terminus Detection Kit” to keep curiosity aliveWhy curiosity, not compliance, is the true act of rebellion under capitalism🧠 Philosophers & Thinkers MentionedKarl Jaspers – concept of un-reason and the role of curiosity in reasonThomas Kuhn – Structure of Scientific Revolutions and paradigm shiftsTheodor Adorno & Max Horkheimer – critique of capitalism’s suppression of inquiryKarl Popper – falsifiability and the problem of unfalsifiable claimsImmanuel Kant – the paralogism and errors of reasonRichard Lewontin – genetic variation and the fallacy of racial intelligence(With comedic mentions of Copernicus, Einstein, and even NietzscheThe Loneliness Industry, Jordan Reyne, capitalism and reason, un-reason, Karl Jaspers, Thomas Kuhn, paradigm shift, Adorno, Horkheimer, Popper, Kant, curiosity and reason, dogma, faux terminus, critical thinking, Jordan Peterson critique, Joe Dispenza debunked, pseudo-science, self-help critique, science and ideology, loneliness and capitalism, structural loneliness, empowerment narratives, connection vs performance, philosophical podcast, public philosophy, anti-self-help, body metrics critique, BMI and bias, IQ and racism, epistemology, cultural critique, modern dogma, paradigm collapse.

Stoicism feels honest: it admits life is often unfair and painful. But when “calm acceptance” becomes a lifestyle, it quietly props up the very systems hurting us—and it supercharges loneliness. In this episode of The Loneliness Industry, we take on modern Stoicism, Western spiritualism, and the capitalist machine that turns emotional repression into a virtue.What we coverStoicism 101 (Zeno, Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius) and why “control yourself, accept the rest” slides into political apathyHow calm detachment looks like avoidant attachment in dating & relationships (Bowlby, Ainsworth, Hazan & Shaver)Why Sara Ahmed says anger is a map, not a moral failureNietzsche’s “zero tolerance” for Stoic emotional austerity (Apollonian vs Dionysian)Avoidant AttachmentJung’s shadow: what repression doesn’t erase, it returns—hardWhy Stoicism isn’t the antidote to Western spiritualism—it’s the other glove on the same handPractical alternatives: curiosity over cool, solidarity over “resilience,” mutual aid over self-blameChapters00:00 Intro – the pay review “accept with dignity” script03:10 Stoicism 101: control, reason vs emotion, virtue as the only good12:45 Ahmed: anger as coordinates; dignity without dissent = complicity19:30 Nietzsche: Apollonian vs Dionysian & life-denying calm26:05 Stoicism → avoidant attachment in love & friendship36:20 Jung’s shadow: the return of the repressed42:10 What to do instead (connection vs compliance)49:00 Conclusion & takeawaysIf this helped youSubscribe for more philosophy that names the system, not just your “mindset”Rate/review the podcast (it really helps)Support via:Patreon:   / thelonelinessindustry  Bandcamp: https://jordanreyne.bandcamp.com/Donations: www.thelonelinessindustry.netNewsletter & episode notes: www.thelonelinessindustry.netReferenced thinkers & themesStoicism, Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, Zeno of Citium, cognitive primacy vs affect-first (Ekman, LeDoux, Barrett), Sara Ahmed (The Promise of Happiness), Friedrich Nietzsche (Twilight of the Idols), John Bowlby & Mary Ainsworth (attachment theory), Hazan & Shaver, Carl Gustav Jung (shadow), Western spiritualism, capitalism & atomization, avoidant attachment, loneliness epidemic.Trigger/content notes: workplace exploitation, relationship distress, depression, religious critique.#Loneliness #Stoicism #marcusaurelius #Nietzsche #SaraAhmed #AttachmentTheory #AvoidantAttachment #Jung #WesternSpirituality #Capitalism #CBT #MentalHealth #PhilosophyPodcast #PoliticalApathy #EmotionalAusterityHow this content was made

In Part 2 of the conversation with Sam Vaknin, we begin by exploring the cycle between covert and overt narcissism — how these shifts unfold, and why they matter. From there, the focus shifts to Western spiritualism: why movements that preach ego death and “killing the self” often misunderstand both healthy ego formation and the traditions they claim to borrow from.We also look at how self-help movements decouple us from our intuition, turning healing into a commodity built on magical thinking. Finally, the discussion circles back to psychology itself: is the DSM a genuine map of human health, or just a manual for compliance? Where do the limits of psychology become most visible when it confronts individuality and suffering?✨ Topics covered:The covert–overt narcissism cycleWestern spiritualism, ego death, and magical thinking (At around 15 minutes in)How self-help movements commodify “healing”The DSM as a tool of conformityPsychology’s cultural limits

Is disconnection simply the result of modern life — or is it a deliberate feature of the systems we live in?In this episode of The Loneliness Industry, I’m joined by Professor Sam Vaknin — author of Malignant Self Love and one of the most cited (and controversial) voices on narcissism — for a deep dive into why we are so isolated.We agree on one point: disconnection is built into our systems. Where we differ is on how we got here.Sam argues these systems reflect the human condition itself — inherently narcissistic and isolation-seeking — supported by a Lacanian-based justification of humanity’s inherent alienation.If you are a regular listener of the podcast, you’ll know my own view is different. Influenced by Foucault’s analysis of power structures and Butler’s work on social norms and identity, I see disconnection as encouraged because those in power benefit from keeping us apart.This episode begins with a question that spawned an in depth exposition of Vaknins theory of the human condition. What followed is a lively, challenging conversation about narcissism, loneliness, human nature, and the forces that shape our connections — and disconnections. This lively, challenging conversation covers: • A Lacanian-based justification of humanity’s inherent alienation • What narcissism really is — and why Sam Vaknin believes it’s part of the human condition • The role of fantasy in avoiding human connection • How loneliness and disconnection are built into modern life • Whether isolation is a choice or the result of power structures • Why some believe technology encourages social isolation • Different perspectives on human nature and our capacity for connection • How narcissistic systems shape our relationships and communities • What happens when philosophical and psychological theories collideIf you’ve ever wondered whether disconnection is something we’ve chosen — or something designed into the fabric of our culture — this episode will challenge you to see the question from two very different angles.

Modern Western spirituality doesn’t “go wrong” — it starts wrong. It’s built on the same toxic values that fuel narcissism and consumer culture: control, grandiosity, and the myth that you alone shape all reality. In this episode of The Loneliness Industry, we break down how modern “spiritual” movements — from manifestation coaches to Instagram gurus — package narcissism as healing and sell a God complex as enlightenment. We unpack how these systems shame people for struggling, replace empathy with blame, and leave followers more disconnected than ever. If you’ve sensed that something about New Age spirituality feels manipulative, this episode will help you see why it’s toxic from the start — and how it was built to be that way. Drawing on thinkers from Nietzsche to Hegel, from Lasch to Eva Illouz, this episode shows how toxic spiritualism was born from capitalism’s narcissistic values — and why gurus keep selling the same false salvation. Philosophers, thinkers, and writers featured: Friedrich Nietzsche — the “God is dead” idea that set the stage for Western spiritualism. Hegel — the master-slave dialectic explaining how gurus and followers are locked in cycles of power. Christopher Lasch — critique of narcissistic culture linking directly to the rise of Western spiritualism. Sam Vaknin — his narcissistic cycle theory shows how covert (vulnerable) narcissists long to become overt (grandiose). Eva Illouz — emotional capitalism explains how spirituality turns empathy into a marketing tool. George W. Bush — referenced for “freedom” as propaganda. George Orwell — and the idea of Newspeak, showing how language masks control. Author of 1984.

Part II in the series on narcissism and society. In this episode of The Loneliness Industry, we dive deep into the impact of narcissism and perfectionism in today’s society and how they contribute to loneliness. Exploring the damaging roles we’re pushed into by both familial and societal systems, we unpack how narcissistic power shapes us into false selves, often leaving us disconnected from others and ourselves.But here’s the twist: imperfection is actually the key to overcoming loneliness in this narcissistic world. By failing to perfectly internalize societal pressures, we maintain our humanity and stay open to authentic connection. This episode combines philosophical insight and psychological analysis to show how embracing our flaws can offer a path to genuine connection and freedom, far beyond the false selves we wear.Key concepts explored in this episode: • The rise of narcissistic traits in society and their impact on emotional isolation • How perfectionism and control perpetuate loneliness • The false self and its role in creating disconnection • The importance of imperfection as a form of resistance • The role of power in shaping identity (through Foucault, Marx, and more)This episode features an exploration of thinkers like Michel Foucault, Christopher Lasch, Judith Butler, and Louis Althusser, whose ideas shed light on how societal values shape our sense of self and our relationships with others.Tune in to learn how recognizing the systemic forces at play can help you shed the role of the ‘perfect self’ and reconnect with what really matters — authenticity, empathy, and meaningful human connections.Links to podcasts Dr. Ramani   / @doctorramani   (for help with narcissistic abuse)Lee Hammock    / @mentalhealness   (self aware narcissist who offers insights)#narcissism #loneliness #falseself #perfectionismrecovery #perfectionism #imperfections #authenticity #emotionalisolation #connection #narcissisticabuserecovery #philosophypodcast #foucault #marxism #judithbutler #socialpsychology #culturalcritique #selfawareness #mentalhealthawareness #identitycrisis #covertnarcissist #psychologicalinsights

What if society is gaslighting you — just like a narcissistic parent would?This episode exposes how Western culture mimics covert narcissistic abuse: demanding performance over authenticity, shaming your needs, rewarding image over connection, and leaving you with chronic loneliness and self-doubt.Discover how narcissistic traits like gaslighting, blame-shifting, triangulation, and emotional manipulation are not just personal — they’re cultural. Drawing on powerful insights from psychology and philosophy, this video shows how modern capitalism trains us to build false selves and see relationships as transactions.📚 Featuring thinkers like Michel Foucault, Judith Butler, Pierre Bourdieu, Alice Miller, Karl Marx, Zhuangzi, Louis Althusser, and Dr. Ramani — this is a deep dive into the roots of emotional isolation, societal narcissism, and the warping of identity under capitalism.If you've ever felt "too much," "too needy," or unlovable — this episode will show you why the problem isn’t you. It’s the system.List of cited or referenced theorists:Philosophers / Sociologists / Cultural Theorists:Michel FoucaultJudith ButlerPierre BourdieuZhuangziKarl MarxLouis AlthusserFrantz Fanon (briefly referenced)Psychologists / Psychoanalysts:Alice MillerOtto KernbergHeinz KohutJames MastersonElinor GreenbergKaryl McBrideJohn BradshawShahida ArabiChristine HammondDr. Ramani DurvasulaSam VakninMusic (intro and Outro) by Jordan Reyne ("The Annihilation Sequence")#Narcissism#NarcissisticAbuse#SocietalNarcissism#FalseSelf#PhilosophyPodcast#MentalHealthAwareness#WesternCulture#Gaslighting#DrRamani#Foucault#JudithButler#Capitalism#AliceMiller#SpiritualBypassing#TraumaHealing#Loneliness#CPTSD#CovertNarcissist#EmotionalAbuseRecovery#PersonalGrowth

Why do we feel unseen — even when we’re surrounded by people? And why does connection so often feel like a performance? This episode of The Loneliness Industry dives deep into the structural roots of loneliness — showing how Western capitalist values like independence, competition, control, and self-sufficiency actively undermine our ability to form meaningful connection. We explore how cultural scripts, stereotypes, and socially approved identities flatten us into roles — while rewarding us for performing versions of ourselves that are legible, desirable, and marketable, but never quite real. Instead of encouraging us to be fully human, this system tells us to be readable. It rewards performance over presence, predictability over intimacy — and sells the idea that to avoid loneliness, you need to wear a mask and fit a role. Connection becomes something we act, not something we live. We talk: • Why being stereotyped feels lonelier than being alone • How social roles replace intimacy with performance • The emotional cost of being “pre-understood” • How consumerism and spiritual culture profit from disconnection • How performing gender roles distances us from who we are • What happens when identity is reduced to a marketing tool Philosophers & thinkers featured: • Emmanuel Levinas – on irreducibility and the ethics of the Other • Frantz Fanon – on misrecognition and being “overdetermined” • Judith Butler – on performativity and survival • John Searle – on brute facts (sex) vs institutional facts (gender) • bell hooks – on mutuality, intimacy, and decolonizing love • Audre Lorde – on complexity, voice, and power • Sara Ahmed – on emotional labor and being made “diverse” If you’ve ever felt misread, boxed in, or punished for being yourself — this episode is for you. 🔗 Listen, and take back what performance tried to erase: your real, messy, human self. Hashtags: #Loneliness #WhyWeFeelLonely #PhilosophyPodcast #EmotionalHealth #Connection #CapitalismAndConnection #JudithButler #FrantzFanon #JohnSearle #Levinas #bellhooks #AudreLorde #SaraAhmed #BruteFacts #InstitutionalFacts #Misrecognition #IdentityPerformance #CulturalScripts #SelfHelpCritique #SpiritualConsumerism #GenderRoles #AuthenticityOverPerformance #TheLonelinessIndustry #ReclaimYourself #CulturalCritique #EmotionalIsolation #SeenAndUnseen #PerformativeIdentity

Why does loneliness persist, even after all the therapy, self-help, and "inner work"?This episode of The Loneliness Industry dives deep into the structural roots of loneliness—showing how Western capitalist values like independence, competition, control, and self-sufficiency actively undermine our ability to form meaningful connection.This episode tells you what the self-help world won’t:Loneliness isn’t just emotional — it’s engineered.By capitalism.By culture.By the values we’re taught to worship: independence, control, self-sufficiency.We talk: • What intimacy really is (and why sex can be completely devoid of it) • Why therapy alone can’t fix disconnection • How capitalism manufactures loneliness — and then shames you for feeling it • What it means to be pathologized for having basic human needsGuest-starring philosophers from several countries:Michel Foucault (on power and the construction of pathology)bell hooks (on love, mutuality, and community)Hannah Arendt (on loneliness and totalitarianism)Lauren Berlant (on cruel optimism and affective structures)Gabor Maté (on connection and health)John Bowlby (on attachment and emotional development)Dan Siegel, Stephen Porges, Louis Cozolino (on relational neuroscience)If you’ve ever felt ashamed for needing others, or wondered why intimacy feels so hard in modern life—this episode is for you.#Loneliness #Capitalism #Foucault #bellhooks #GaborMate #LaurenBerlant #HannahArendt #AttachmentTheory #PolyvagalTheory #TheLonelinessIndustry #MentalHealth #Connection #SelfHelpCritique #PhilosophyPodcast #CulturalCritique #EmotionalHealth #JohnBowlby #StephenPorges #DanSiegel #LouisCozolino #LoveEthic #CruelOptimism #WesternValues #PodcastOnLoneliness

Is competition really driving us forward—or quietly pulling us apart? In this episode of The Loneliness Industry, we dig deep into how comparison culture, capitalist values, and performative selfhood are making us lonelier than ever. From office sports metaphors to narcissistic self-help mantras, we unpack the hidden psychological and philosophical costs of a society obsessed with winning.Expect critical insights from thinkers like Sartre, Foucault, Alfred Adler, Gabor Maté, and more—as well as personal stories, cultural critique, and a few dark laughs. If you’ve ever felt like you’re not measuring up, like your worth depends on your performance, or like everyone around you is secretly judging your life like a talent show… this one’s for you.🌀 Topics include:The loneliness of always measuring upThe psychology of comparison and narcissismHow capitalism turns performance into identityThe myth of healthy competitionWhat philosophy says about the gaze, the self, and belongingReal ways to reconnect in a world obsessed with rankingAuthors, Philosophers and Psychologists Referenced: Alfred Adler – Psychologist; known for theories on inferiority/superiority complexes.Sigmund Freud – Psychoanalyst; referenced with humor re: dream interpretation.Leon Festinger – Psychologist; developed Social Comparison Theory.Christopher Lasch – Cultural critic; The Culture of Narcissism (1979).Carol Dweck – Psychologist; Fixed vs Growth Mindsets.Herbert Marcuse – Philosopher; One-Dimensional Man (1964).Byung-Chul Han – Philosopher; The Burnout Society.Slavoj Žižek – Philosopher; Ideology and “enjoyment.”Peter Kropotkin – Anarchist and philosopher; emphasized cooperation over competition.Charles Darwin – Naturalist; referenced for Descent of Man and misreadings of his work.Herbert Spencer – Social theorist; coined “survival of the fittest.”Stephen Jay Gould – Paleontologist and evolutionary theorist; critiqued Social Darwinism.Daniel Dennett – Philosopher of mind; mentioned re: evolution and cooperation.Jean-Paul Sartre – Philosopher; The Gaze, Being and Nothingness.Michel Foucault – Philosopher; Panopticon, internalized surveillance, disciplinary society.Judith Butler – Philosopher and gender theorist; performativity.Carl Jung – Psychologist; on alienation and the “true self.”Erich Fromm – Psychoanalyst and philosopher; on alienation under capitalism.Gabor Maté – Physician and author; on trauma, loneliness, and connection.Martha Nussbaum – Philosopher; Capabilities Approach and human flourishing.Alain de Botton – Philosopher and writer; commentary on modern success narratives.#Loneliness, #PhilosophyPodcast, #SocialComparison, #PsychologyOfSelf, #CapitalismAndMentalHealth, #TheGaze, #Foucault, #Sartre, #GaborMate, #AlfredAdler, #SelfWorth, #CompetitionCulture, #competition #philosophyofpsychology, #lonelinesssociety, #PerformingTheSelf, #MentalHealthAwareness, #Neoliberalism, #ConnectionOverComparison, #connection, #socialcritique, #whyamidoingthis, #whyamilikethis

The Lie of Cognitive Primacy — Why Your Feelings Matter More Than You’ve Been ToldWhat if the real reason you feel broken... isn’t you?In this episode, we confront one of the most insidious myths of modern life: cognitive primacy — the belief that our thoughts should govern our emotions, that logic is superior to feeling, and that healing means "thinking better."But this isn’t just bad psychology. It’s a cultural weapon — one that isolates us, individualizes blame, and erases emotion as a valid form of knowing. We explore how this ideology disconnects us from ourselves and each other, and why reclaiming our emotional truth is not just healing — it’s radical resistance.We unpack:- How cognitive primacy functions as a tool of self-surveillance and shame- Why CBT is institutionalised gaslighting- Why emotional intelligence isn’t about control, but connection- The political and social cost of treating feelings as errors- How grief, rage, and fear might be exactly what the moment calls for.You don’t need to be calm to be worthy. You don’t need to be “fixed” to be whole.Your feelings are not a flaw — they’re a signal. A truth. A rebellion.✨ Listen now and reclaim the power of your emotional life.Philosophers/ Thinkers/ Authors Mentioned:Rene DescartesImmanual KantSara AhmedMichel FoucualtMaurice Merleau-Ponty#philosophy#psychology#loneliness#lonelinessawareness#philosophyofpsychology#socialcritique#culturalcritique#cognitiveprimacy#Loneliness #Individualism #philosophy #WesternCulture #Capitalism #SelfHelpCulture #MentalHealth #interdependence #philosophy101 #thinkforyourself #SocialCritique #PersonalGrowth #EmotionalIsolation #CulturalAnalysis #SelfSufficiency #humanconnection #connection #thinkoutsidethebox #toxicpositivity #connection #thinkoutsidethebox #toxicpositivity #loneliness #CognitivePrimacy #mentalhealthmyths #emotionalwisdom #FeelingsAreValid #HealingIsPolitical #podcasts #podcast #lonelinesssociety #cbt #whyCBTisbullshit #Loneliness #Individualism #HeroNarrative #philosophy #westernculture #capitalism #selfhelpbooks #selfhelp #mentalhealth #interdependence #philosophicalinquiry #philosophicaldiscussion #philosophicalthinking #cbtisbullshit #socialcritique #personalgrowth #personalgrowthjourney #emotionalintelligence solation #culturalanalysis #selfsufficiency #humanconnection #connection #whyamilikethis #whyamihere #whyamidoingthis #toxicpositivity #thinkpositive #mindovermatter

In this episode of The Loneliness Industry, we unpack how “control” is sold as empowerment in Western capitalist culture—but often acts as a hidden tool of ideological control and social division.We explore how the pursuit of control offers comfort, but also fuels toxic self-blame, empathy gaps, and the myth that people ‘deserve’ their suffering. This episode challenges the narrative that personal failure is always personal—and asks what happens when we stop pretending that life is fair.If you've ever felt alone, ashamed, or like you're just “not doing healing right,” this one’s for you.🎧 Tune in for thought-provoking insights, biting commentary, and a crummy dating story—because philosophy's better with a bit of mess.Authors/ Philosophers/ Psychologists mentioned:Marcus Aurelius Epictetus Albert Bandura Michel Foucault Slavoj ZizekRichard Stankovic Judith Butler Charles Taylor#Loneliness #Individualism #philosophy #WesternCulture #Capitalism #SelfHelpCulture #MentalHealth #interdependence #philosophy101 #SocialCritique #PersonalGrowth #EmotionalIsolation #CulturalAnalysis #SelfSufficiency #humanconnection #connection #thinkoutsidethebox #toxicpositivity #mentalhealthmyths #emotionalwisdom #control #controller #controlissues #controlmental #controlmental #mentalhealthmyths #positivitymindset #connection #thinkoutsidethebox #toxicpositivity #positivevibes #FeelingsAreValid #HealingIsPolitical #podcasts #podcast #lonelinesssociety #loneliness #lonelinesstostrength #lonelinessmotivation #thinkforyourself #whyCBTisbullshit #Loneliness #Individualism #philosophy #westernculture #capitalism #selfhelpbooks #selfhelp #mentalhealth #interdependence #philosophicalinquiry #philosophicaldiscussion #philosophicalthinking #socialcritique #personalgrowth #personalgrowthjourney #emotionalintelligence solation #culturalanalysis #selfsufficiency #humanconnection #connection #whyamilikethis #whyamihere #whyamidoingthis #understandingmyself

In this first full episode of The Loneliness Industry, we dive into the philosophical roots of loneliness in Western culture—starting with individualism and the hero narrative that props it up.Through the lens of pop culture, consumerism, and critical theory, I explore how Western capitalist ideology encourages us to see ourselves as lone protagonists on a personal quest—detached, self-sufficient, and responsible for everything. It promises freedom and empowerment, but often delivers disconnection, self-blame, and emotional isolation.We unpack how this worldview reshapes our ideas of success, health, and human worth, sidelining empathy and erasing our need for interdependence. And crucially, we look at how the lone hero myth encourages us to treat others not as people, but as plot devices—supporting characters whose value is based on how well they serve our individual goals. In the process, real connection is lost, and loneliness deepens, even when we’re surrounded by others.🎧 A blend of philosophy, cultural critique, and lived experience—with a dash of dry wit and side-eye.Authors mentioned:Emmanuel LevinasSlavoj ZizekIntro/ Outro Music:Jordan Reyne, "The Annihilation Sequence." To be found at: https://jordanreyne.bandcamp.com#Loneliness #Individualism #philosophy #WesternCulture #Capitalism #SelfHelpCulture #MentalHealth #interdependence #philosophy101 #SocialCritique #PersonalGrowth #EmotionalIsolation #CulturalAnalysis #SelfSufficiency #humanconnection #connection #thinkoutsidethebox #toxicpositivity #mentalhealthmyths #emotionalwisdom#loneliness #thinkforyourself #individualism #socialcritique #heroesjourney #narcissism #culturalnarratives #mentalhealthmyths #emotionalwisdom #FeelingsAreValid #HealingIsPolitical #podcasts #podcast #lonelinesssociety #heroicjourney #lonewolf #Loneliness #Individualism #heronarrative #heroesjourney #lonewolf #philosophy #westernculture #capitalism #selfhelpbooks #selfhelp #mentalhealth #interdependence #philosophicalinquiry #philosophicaldiscussion #philosophicalthinking #cbtisbullshit #socialcritique #personalgrowth #personalgrowthjourney #emotionalintelligence solation #culturalanalysis #selfsufficiency #humanconnection #connection #whyamilikethis #whyamihere #whyamidoingthis

 Welcome to the first episode of The Loneliness Industry, where we explore the real causes of loneliness in today’s world. I’m Jordan, and I’m here to help break the stigma around loneliness, unpack its societal roots, and offer a more nuanced conversation about isolation. As someone who has personally navigated the complexities of loneliness, I want to create a place where we don’t blame ourselves but instead look at the cultural, psychological, and philosophical factors that contribute to it. In this episode, I’ll share a bit about who I am, why I started this podcast, and what you can expect from the episodes to come. If you’ve ever felt disconnected or alone in a hyperconnected world, you’re in the right place.  Explicit content: contains occasional expletives.