It started with a debate about pie. It went somewhere much bigger.

This week Keith and Gerren get into trust — where it went, why it's so hard to rebuild, and what we're actually asking of each other when we say we want to repair it. From the neuroscience of why distrust is a physiological response to the very real question of whether political fractures can ever fully heal, this one covers a lot of ground without pretending any of it is simple.

Also: only 20% of Americans trust the federal government right now. The most trusted institution? Your employer. We leave that one right there.

Next week they're coming back for identity and what it has to do with all of this. Stay tuned.

Key Topics: The neuroscience of distrust and why it isn't a choice, Dunbar's number and the social architecture of trust, in-group vs. out-group conflict, what accountability actually requires, and the Edelman Trust Barometer's most uncomfortable finding.

Resources Mentioned: 📊 Pew Research — Public Trust in Government → https://www.pewresearch.org 📊 Edelman Trust Barometer → https://www.edelman.com/trust 📚 Dunbar's Number → https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunbar%27s_number

Find Us: 🌐 https://www.moreincommonent.com 📸 https://www.instagram.com/moreincommonent 🐦 https://twitter.com/MoreInCommonent 📘 https://www.facebook.com/moreincommonpod

Like what you heard? Leave us a comment in your podcast app — it genuinely helps more people find the show. See you next week.

Two guys, a microphone, and zero interest in pretending masculinity isn't having a moment.

This week Keith and Gerren dig into something they've been circling for a while — what masculinity actually means, what it costs when we get it wrong, and why so many men are still performing a version of themselves that was never really theirs to begin with.

From performative bravado to the very real mental health crisis sitting underneath it, this is the conversation your group chat is too scared to start. They get personal, they get honest — and they stick around at the end for Gerren's halftime karaoke debut at a Tijuana Zonkeys game. Yes, really.

Key Topics: Performative masculinity and why the bravado doesn't hold up, the influence of media and online communities on how men define themselves, vulnerability as strength rather than weakness, and what it looks like to actually build space for men to be real with each other.

Resources Mentioned: 📚 Scott Galloway on Masculinity → https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Scott+Galloway 🎬 Inside the Manosphere (Netflix) → https://www.netflix.com/title/81920687 🧠 Men's Mental Health Resources → https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/

Find Us: 🌐 https://www.moreincommonent.com 📸 https://www.instagram.com/moreincommonent 🐦 https://twitter.com/MoreInCommonent 📘 https://www.facebook.com/moreincommonpod

Like what you heard? Leave us a comment in your podcast app — it genuinely helps more people find the show. We'll see you next week.

Summary

In this episode, Gerren Taylor and Keith Richardson explore the complex relationship between social media, human psychology, and connection. They discuss groupthink, biases, the neurological impact of social media, and strategies for healthier engagement.

keywords

social media, groupthink, human psychology, biases, neurological impact, connection, emotional awareness, AI, mental health, digital detox

key topics

Groupthink and social influence Neurological effects of social media Bias and perception in digital spaces

guest name

Gerren Taylor and Keith Richardson

sound bites

"That's how algorithms work on social media" "They know exactly what hair products to send you" "Our brains tend to choose brighter colors"

Chapters

00:00 The Art of Conversational Dance 01:16 Understanding Groupthink and Its Implications 02:59 The Influence of Algorithms on Decision Making 05:04 Navigating Social Media and Human Connection 08:43 The Impact of Social Media on Face-to-Face Interactions 12:34 Bias, Memory, and Decision Making 16:36 The Role of Emotional Awareness in Conversations 20:04 Generative AI and Its Effect on Reality 21:56 Finding Balance in a Digital World 25:45 Creating Healthy Boundaries with Social Media

resources

Dolly Chug - The Person You Mean to Be - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07V4X7V4X University of Kentucky Study on Social Media and Face-to-Face Contact - https://uknowledge.uky.edu/psychology_facpub/123 AI and Relationship Dynamics - https://www.example.com/ai-relationships

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