This podcast episode explores what the term incel means and what defines incel culture and ideology in this emerging form of gender based violent extremism. The Incel community has grown to be deeply ideological, promoting hate and violence against women across social media platforms and is becoming a growing cause of concern across the world. We chat with UK filmmaker and journalist Benjamin Zand. In his film featured on Four Corners he takes us into the dark world of Incels, a radical online subculture of young men who rage against women for supposedly denying them sex and then turn that rage into fantasies about horrific violence. The question is whether Incels pose a serious violent extremist threat in Australia, or are they just a marginalised neurodivergent group with social issues that are largely misunderstood?

You can find our support services here or contact Step Together for further information

FURTHER LINKS RELATING TO THIS EPISODE
How to Save an Incel  podcast
What is an incel
A short introduction to the involuntary celibate subculture
We research online misogynist radicalisation here’s what parents of boys should know
Talking to your sons about Andrew Tate and the 'manosphere'

This podcast episode explores what the term incel means and what defines incel culture and ideology in this emerging form of gender based violent extremism. The Incel community has grown to be deeply ideological, promoting hate and violence against women across social media platforms and is becoming a growing cause of concern across the world. We chat with UK filmmaker and journalist Benjamin Zand. In his film featured on Four Corners he takes us into the dark world of Incels, a radical online subculture of young men who rage against women for supposedly denying them sex and then turn that rage into fantasies about horrific violence. The question is whether Incels pose a serious violent extremist threat in Australia, or are they just a marginalised neurodivergent group with social issues that are largely misunderstood?
You can find our <a href="https://steptogether.nsw.gov.au/contact-us/support-services.html">support services here</a> or <a href="s://steptogether.nsw.gov.au/contact-us.html">contact Step Together</a> for further information
FURTHER LINKS RELATING TO THIS EPISODE
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001ypzb">How to Save an Incel  podcast</a></li>
<li><a href="https://counterhate.com/blog/what-is-an-incel-inceldom/">What is an incel</a></li>
<li><a href="https://crestresearch.ac.uk/resources/a-short-introduction-to-the-involuntary-celibate-sub-culture/">A short introduction to the involuntary celibate subculture</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/we-research-online-misogynist-radicalisation-heres-what-parents-of-boys-should-know-232901">We research online misogynist radicalisation here’s what parents of boys should know</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07-08/talking-to-sons-about-the-manosphere-toxic-masculinity/103959106">Talking to your sons about Andrew Tate and the 'manosphere'</a></li>
</ul>

This podcast series focussed on violent extremism has been developed as a means of providing listeners with some thought-provoking topics within this context, personal insights and journeys, as well as helpful information that could assist someone who is vulnerable to being involved in violent extremism. Hosted by the NSW CVE Engagement and Support Unit, the series aims to support and educate local community, stakeholders and practitioners and raise awareness of the complex factors and vulnerabilities that contribute to these ideologies. We promote public education, awareness and community resilience and help combat stigma, stereotyping, messaging and mis and disinformation. 

Learn more – www.steptogether.nsw.gov.au

This podcast series focussed on violent extremism has been developed as a means of providing listeners with some thought-provoking topics within this context, personal insights and journeys, as well as helpful information that could assist someone who is vulnerable to being involved in violent extremism. Hosted by the NSW CVE Engagement and Support Unit, the series aims to support and educate local community, stakeholders and practitioners and raise awareness of the complex factors and vulnerabilities that contribute to these ideologies. We promote public education, awareness and community resilience and help combat stigma, stereotyping, messaging and mis and disinformation. 
Learn more &ndash; <a href="http://www.steptogether.nsw.gov.au/">www.steptogether.nsw.gov.au</a>

Start The Conversation

This podcast series focussed on violent extremism has been developed as a means of providing listeners with some thought-provoking topics within this context, personal insights and journeys, as well as helpful information that could assist someone who is vulnerable to being involved in violent extremism. Hosted by the NSW CVE Engagement and Support Unit, the series aims to support and educate local community, stakeholders and practitioners and raise awareness of the complex factors and vulnerabilities that contribute to these ideologies. We promote public education, awareness and community resilience and help combat stigma, stereotyping, messaging and mis and disinformation. 

Learn more – www.steptogether.nsw.gov.au.

This podcast series focussed on violent extremism has been developed as a means of providing listeners with some thought-provoking topics within this context, personal insights and journeys, as well as helpful information that could assist someone who is vulnerable to being involved in violent extremism. Hosted by the NSW CVE Engagement and Support Unit, the series aims to support and educate local community, stakeholders and practitioners and raise awareness of the complex factors and vulnerabilities that contribute to these ideologies. We promote public education, awareness and community resilience and help combat stigma, stereotyping, messaging and mis and disinformation. 
Learn more &ndash; <a href="http://www.steptogether.nsw.gov.au/">www.steptogether.nsw.gov.au</a>.

UK Journalist Benjamin Zand - The Secret World of Incels

Acts of mass violence are often described as sudden, random and unstoppable. Evidence from behavioural science and policing tells a different story.

Join us for a timely and important podcast episode with Ian Cherrington, a former senior UK detective and behavioural analyst, now based in Australia, who has spent decades studying what people do before they carry out an act of violence — and how those warning signs are often visible to others. This episode will focus on recognition, responsibility and early action.

Ian Cherrington brings international experience across forensic psychology and behavioural analysis, counter‑terrorism and lone‑actor threat assessment and working with vulnerable individuals drawn toward violence or extremism.

He has examined cases from around the world to understand the journey toward violence, with a strong belief that early intervention can save lives.

Acts of mass violence are often described as sudden, random and unstoppable. Evidence from behavioural science and policing tells a different story.
Join us for a timely and important podcast episode with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-cherrington-msc-8685b3321">Ian Cherrington</a>, a former senior UK detective and behavioural analyst, now based in Australia, who has spent decades studying what people do before they carry out an act of violence &mdash; and how those warning signs are often visible to others. This episode will focus on recognition, responsibility and early action.
Ian Cherrington brings international experience across forensic psychology and behavioural analysis, counter‑terrorism and lone‑actor threat assessment and working with vulnerable individuals drawn toward violence or extremism.
He has examined cases from around the world to understand the journey toward violence, with a strong belief that early intervention can save lives.

Before an Attack: Spotting the Signs with Ian Cherrington

Netflix's new show Adolescence has sparked a lot of recent conversation and online discussions because it explores teenage masculinity in raw, sometimes unsettling ways, touching on themes like male insecurity, toxic masculinity, peer pressure, and toxic online influences that mirror real-life dynamics within the Manosphere. From a countering violent extremism lens, it raises the question of definitions and the delicate tipping point between violent misogyny and incel ideology and the evolution from online grievance spaces into real life threats. In this episode we chat with Dar Shannon Zimmerman, to help navigate the complexities. Shannon is a lecturer in strategic studies at Deakin University in the Center for Future Defense and National Security. Her research investigates misogyny-motivated terrorism, looking at online radicalisation and the groups in the Manosphere. She's currently working on a book exploring the involuntary celibates, or incels, as a new political movement.

Netflix's new show Adolescence has sparked a lot of recent conversation and online discussions because it explores teenage masculinity in raw, sometimes unsettling ways, touching on themes like male insecurity, toxic masculinity, peer pressure, and toxic online influences that mirror real-life dynamics within the Manosphere. From a countering violent extremism lens, it raises the question of definitions and the delicate tipping point between violent misogyny and incel ideology and the evolution from online grievance spaces into real life threats. In this episode we chat with Dar Shannon Zimmerman, to help navigate the complexities. Shannon is a lecturer in strategic studies at Deakin University in the Center for Future Defense and National Security. Her research investigates misogyny-motivated terrorism, looking at online radicalisation and the groups in the Manosphere. She's currently working on a book exploring the involuntary celibates, or incels, as a new political movement.

Toxic masculinity and the “manosphere” with Dr Shannon Zimmerman

In this episode we chat with one of the world’s leading experts on terrorist psychology, Dr John Horgan. John is a distinguished University Professor of Psychology at Georgia State University where he directs the Violent Extremism Research Group. His research examines terrorist behaviour. His current focus is on school shootings in the US, and the critical disconnect that happens where offenders leak their intent but no one reports to an adult or authority. We delve a little further into this and what we can do in the intervention space to ensure that the warning signs are not ignored.

You can find our support services here or contact Step Together for further information

FURTHER LINKS RELATING TO THIS EPISODE
Lessons From a Mass Shooter’s Mother
Studying the Links Between White Supremacist Terrorists and School Shooters
Understanding and preventing violent extremism in school settings 
Unesco: Teacher’s Guide on the Prevention of Violent Extremism
The critical role of friends in networks for countering violent extremism: toward a theory of vicarious help-seeking
AVERT Webinar - 'Terrorist Minds' with Professor John Horgan

In this episode we chat with one of the world’s leading experts on terrorist psychology, Dr John Horgan. John is a distinguished University Professor of Psychology at Georgia State University where he directs the Violent Extremism Research Group. His research examines terrorist behaviour. His current focus is on school shootings in the US, and the critical disconnect that happens where offenders leak their intent but no one reports to an adult or authority. We delve a little further into this and what we can do in the intervention space to ensure that the warning signs are not ignored.
You can find our <a href="https://steptogether.nsw.gov.au/contact-us/support-services.html">support services here</a> or <a href="s://steptogether.nsw.gov.au/contact-us.html">contact Step Together</a> for further information
FURTHER LINKS RELATING TO THIS EPISODE
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.motherjones.com/criminal-justice/2024/05/threat-assessment-mass-shooting-elliot-rodger-isla-vista-mother/">Lessons From a Mass Shooter’s Mother</a></li>
<li><a href="https://quillette.com/2020/01/14/studying-the-links-between-white-supremacist-terrorists-and-school-shooters/">Studying the Links Between White Supremacist Terrorists and School Shooters</a></li>
<li><a href="https://file-us.clickdimensions.com/mosbaorg-aa1yz/files/preventingviolentextremisminschoolsarticle-horgan.pdf?m=10/3/2024%203:02:04%20PM&amp;_cldee=6yWubjfWi3fsT_Q5B7pRVglVERr5QSb0SMGUYYz5loMk_cHwf5UbGcLShg0LPhTF&amp;recipientid=contact-d41a38d4659deb11b1ac00224804018b-2ccfcad8feb744bb8860ecf165514a5f&amp;esid=94f2265b-9081-ef11-ac21-6045bd017a67">Understanding and preventing violent extremism in school settings </a></li>
<li><a href="https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000244676">Unesco: Teacher’s Guide on the Prevention of Violent Extremism</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19434472.2015.1101147">The critical role of friends in networks for countering violent extremism: toward a theory of vicarious help-seeking</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sbLqpOsO3U">AVERT Webinar - 'Terrorist Minds' with Professor John Horgan</a></li>
</ul>

UK Journalist Benjamin Zand - The Secret World of Incels

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