Robert Putnam Revisits "Bowling Alone" with The Mingle Project

About this episode

Michael Smerconish discusses social isolation and political polarization with Robert Putnam, focusing on the importance of rebuilding social capital in America.

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.

People in this episode

Host: Michael Smerconish

Guest: Robert Putnam

Topics covered

• social isolation
• political polarization
• civic life
• community ties
• social capital
• democracy
• populism

Keywords

• social isolation
• political polarization
• civic engagement
• community
• democracy
• Bowling Alone
• The Mingle Project
• social capital
• populism

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Harvard

Books & works: Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community

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