As a teenager, Rob Moore had “a lot of energy and not a lot of productive places to put it.” He jumped off bridges, drove too fast, experimented with drugs and alcohol, and got into trouble with the law. If you had asked his teachers whether he was more likely to become mayor or end up in jail, he jokes, they would have picked jail.
Today, at 28, Moore is the youngest mayor in the history of Los Gatos, California.
We discuss:
How mentors, meaningful responsibilities, and direct invitations to contribute can help young men direct their energy toward something constructive.
Why Moore created the Young Leaders Group, where 35 high school students routinely meet offline to discuss topics they select, including a difficult conversation about masculinity, femininity, and the growing divide between boys and girls.
How boys often build trust through shared activities and shoulder-to-shoulder interactions before opening up.
Why social media is not a true “third space”—and how skate parks, basketball courts, libraries, athletic fields, sidewalks, and safe bike lanes function as essential social infrastructure.
Whether the funds from the proposed Meta could help communities build real-world alternatives for young people.
How expensive travel sports can monopolize public facilities, excluding families unable to pay thousands of dollars per season.
Why men who benefited from coaches and mentors owe a “generational debt” to the boys coming after them.
Ending the week right with the Train Hard Men’s Club.
A larger theme runs throughout our conversation. Young people can’t just be told to log off, grow up, and look for work when the pathways to get there are fuzzy and just paying a month’s rent is out of reach for the majority.
If we want young people to spend less time online, we need to help build an offline world that is appealing.
You can listen to the audio above or through your favorite podcast app, or watch the video below. As always, we appreciate your feedback in the comments or via a direct message.
