EPISODE · May 7, 2026 · 28 MIN
Robert Putnam Revisits "Bowling Alone" with The Mingle Project
from Book Club with Michael Smerconish · host Robert Putnam, Michael Smerconish
Visit The Mingle Project, and watch this in Episode #27 of The Mingle Project on YouTube. The Mingle Project is Michael's mission to restore civility and compromise to our public discourse. For three decades, he’s had a front-row seat to the increase in polarization that has gripped the nation. He sees the current climate as part of a much larger disconnect in society fueled by technology and self-sorting, having a serious impact on the mental health of our youth. The Mingle Project is both his diagnosis and prescription for the problem, presented through anecdotes, social science… and a few laughs! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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What this episode covers
Michael sits down with Harvard political scientist Robert Putnam, author of "Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community" (2000), for a timely conversation about America’s growing social isolation and political polarization. In this special episode talking about The Mingle Project, Putnam explains how the decline of civic life, community ties, and shared experiences helped create the conditions for today’s populism — and why rebuilding “social capital” is essential to restoring democracy. From school buses and bowling leagues to social media algorithms and Silicon Valley, Smerconish and Putnam explore what tore Americans apart, what history teaches about recovery, and how communities can reconnect before it’s too late. Original air date 7 May 2026.
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Robert Putnam Revisits "Bowling Alone" with The Mingle Project
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