The Crisis of Male Purpose: Politics, Isolation, and the Death of Third Spaces | Ross Morales Rocketto
Update: 2025-09-29
Description
Ross Morales Rocketto is a political organizer and consultant with over 20 years in electoral politics. He co-founded Run for Something, helping elect 1000+ progressive candidates, organized White Dudes for Harris (200k participants, $5M raised), and was named to Time's 100 Next list in 2022. Now he's shifting focus to The Man Project, working to facilitate healing for 100 million men.
Key Topics Discussed:
- The Male Isolation Crisis - How 65% of men feeling "unknown," economic changes undermining traditional provider/protector roles, and the death of third spaces contribute to political radicalization and cynicism toward democratic institutions
- Political Communication Failures - Why the left has struggled to authentically connect with men, the difference between policy alignment and authentic messaging, and how grievance politics exploits male frustration more effectively than empathetic outreach
- Online vs. In-Person Community - The fundamental differences between digital echo chambers that incentivize outrage and real-world relationships that build empathy, accountability, and genuine dialogue across ideological differences
- Scaling Empathy and Healing - Moving beyond political solutions toward authentic community-building, the importance of showing up to uncomfortable spaces, and creating tension that facilitates growth rather than comfort that enables stagnation
Resources - Find Ross's Work:
- Instagram: @rossmoralesrocketto
- Substack: Ross Morales Rocketto
- LinkedIn: Ross Morales Rocketto
Get in touch in the comments below or head to...
Website: www.weslambert.me
Listen:
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Yv1ciX90C3zdPxD67kjyY?si=cf6bec6d6e874108
- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mature-male/id1805978833
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@themature_male
Email: wesjlambert@gmail.com
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