082: The Ugly Ideology Behind 'Looksmaxxing' Subcultures feat. Annie Kelly (Patreon)

By now, you've probably seen it: someone you follow making a joke about "maxxing" or getting "mogged" on your timeline. These terms come from a terminally online subculture spun off of the so-called "manosphere" known as "looksmaxxing." It's hyper-focused on the shallowest dimension of masculinity: physical appearance.

Clavicular, the subculture's breakout star, has been popping up everywhere lately, including in The New York Times. But most of this discourse has overlooked the toxic roots of "looksmaxxing" and the misogynist ideology at its core.

This week, researcher Annie Kelly joins Jared and Mike to help fill that gap. Strap in for an unexpectedly philosophical, "ethereal-tier" episode of Posting Through It, as we relentlessly mog your other favorite podcasters and unpack the complexities of romantic love.

Links for Annie Kelly:

Listen to the first episode of “Truly Tradly Deeply”

Check out QAA’s 10-part series: “MANCLAN”

Bluesky: @annieknk.bsky.social / X: @AnnieKNK

Other links:

Read Mike’s latest story for Mother Jones: “Who the Fuck Are These Men?” How extremists reconquered Idaho—and how some locals are fighting back.

Join us in Washington, DC, for the release of Mike's first book, "Strange People on the Hill": Politics & Prose, April 11 @ 5pm (Free)

We enjoyed reading this column in 404 Media: We Have Learned Nothing About Amplifying Morons

Transition Music: “Indiana” by Lune the Band