Ep 2. Lost Boys

In season 7 episode 2 of This is Life with Lisa Ling, entitled "Lost Boys," Ling explores the struggle of young men who are on the margins of society. These men have been abandoned by their families, have no access to education, and lack opportunities for stable employment. Ling visits a group of young men in urban Detroit who have formed their own community, living in abandoned houses and relying on each other for support. She speaks with members of the group who share their stories of growing up in unstable homes and being forced to fend for themselves from a young age.

Ling also traveled to the Navajo Nation in Arizona to look at the high rate of suicide among young men there. Said to be the largest Native American reservation in the country, Navajo has been affected by historical trauma that affects these boys and causes them to be more susceptible to suicide. Ling interviews a boy who attempted suicide twice and another boy who lost 5 friends to suicide in just two years. She also spoke with elders and community leaders who shared that their culture places a heavy emphasis on family and community support and how difficult it is for young men who are losing their connection with their roots.

Next, she meets with some young men in Utah who are struggling to fit into society because they have been raised in a strict religious community where they are expected to marry and have children at a young age. Ling interviews a few of the men who have struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts because they cannot live up to the expectations of their community - falling in love with someone outside their faith is seen as a sin. Ling also speaks with a former member of the community who left the religion and is now living with his boyfriend.

Finally, the episode wraps up with Ling's trip to the first-of-its-kind boarding school for urban Native American boys in Minneapolis. The school combines traditional education with cultural teachings, specifically designed to prevent boys from falling in the cracks. Ling briefly visits and meets some of the staff and boys and learns about the impact they're making on the young Native American men.

Overall, "Lost Boys" delves into the struggles of young men who are often overlooked and who don't have a strong support system. Ling highlights different communities and the different reasons for their struggles, but ultimately, the unifying theme is the feeling of hopelessness and helplessness that come with being so disconnected from family and community.