E02: Why Individualism Makes Us Lonely

In this first full episode, I start laying the groundwork for the series by unpacking the core values embedded in Western capitalist discourse—not just as isolated ideas, but as a whole system of meaning. , revealing how its widespread appeal shapes our understanding of success, health, and personal worth. Framed through the pervasive “hero narrative,” individualism promises autonomy and agency while subtly displacing our awareness of interdependence and social responsibility. I look at how this value, while psychologically reassuring, ultimately isolates us by encouraging detachment from others and emotional self-sufficiency. Drawing on examples from pop culture, consumerism, and philosophical thought, the episode exposes how we’re trained to see others as mere accessories to our own story—reducing connection to usefulness and deepening the experience of loneliness it claims to solve.

Authors mentioned:
Emmanuel Levinas
Slavoj Zizek

Intro/ Outro Music:
Jordan Reyne, "The Annihilation Sequence."
To be found at: https://jordanreyne.bandcamp.com

More info at
http://www.thelonelinessindustry.net
http://www.jordanreyne.com
https://www.instagram.com/thelonelinessindustry/
https://www.facebook.com/theLonelinessIndustry/

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