Marc Fennell goes inside the manosphere for new documentary The State of Man

Marc Fennell, the journalist and broadcaster known for hosting Australian Mastermind, SBS current affairs show The Feed and a string of popular podcasts, has made the manosphere the subject of his latest documentary work. The three-part series, The State of Man, sees him travel widely and take part in the kinds of experiences popular in that online world.

"I am really chucked in the deep end," he says. "I put on the boxing gloves in a brawling pen. I get my testosterone tested. I'm knee-deep in the Enhanced Games [a controversial sporting event that allows athletes to take performance-enhancing drugs]. I fire a gun with a millionaire influencer. It's action packed."

Fennell describes the manosphere as "the deceptively catchy name for the amorphous and destructive network of online channels and creators that promote male dominance and denigrate feminism." He says he had been watching it for a couple of years and noticed something had changed. "Everything started to metastasise around money or dominating women in relationships, and the acceptable standard of what a body was seemed to be changing."

The project adds to a busy career that includes the podcasts No One Saw It Coming, It Burns, Nut Jobs and Stuff the British Stole, the last of which became a television series.

Analysis

Why This Matters

A mainstream documentary series brings the manosphere, an online subculture often discussed in the abstract, into public view through first-person journalism.
The series arrives amid wider concern about online misogyny and the influence of these communities on young men, including in schools.
Fennell's immersive approach, including joining controversial events, could shape how audiences understand the appeal and danger of the movement.

Background

The manosphere is a loose collection of online communities and creators, including men's rights activists, pickup artists and self-styled self-improvement influencers. Critics argue much of it is built around power in relationships, hostility towards women and targeting of young men's insecurities. Fennell says he spent a couple of years watching these conversations grow darker, with more content focused on money, dominating women and extreme body standards.

Key Perspectives

Marc Fennell: The journalist positions the series as a hands-on investigation. He describes being thrown in the deep end as the point, entering environments most viewers would never see from the inside. Manosphere creators and audiences: Some inside the scene may see the series as a chance to explain their views to a mainstream audience, or as recognition that men's concerns are being taken seriously. Others may reject the description of the manosphere as destructive. Critics and skeptics: Some will question whether giving manosphere figures mainstream exposure amplifies their platforms, and whether stunt-driven journalism can capture a sprawling and evolving online ecosystem. There is also a risk the series blurs the line between genuine men's mental health content and misogynistic influence.

What to Watch

How The State of Man is received when it airs, including whether it is praised for scrutiny or criticised for platforming.
Whether any of Fennell's on-camera encounters with influencers spark follow-up controversy.
Whether the series adds to public and political discussion about how online content targeting young men is regulated and addressed.

Analysis

Why This Matters

Background

Key Perspectives

What to Watch

Sources