The Death of the Expert: Why We’ve Stopped Listening to People Who Know What They’re Talking About

Once upon a time, the expert was revered. The man in the white coat. The woman with letters after her name. The teacher, the professor, the coach, the doctor—they held the torch of knowledge and lit the way for everyone else. When they spoke, you listened. When they instructed, you obeyed. To question them was almost heretical.

That era is over.

Today, we live in a world where a teenager with a ring light and a half-baked opinion can command more attention—and trust—than a scholar with three decades of study under their belt. Expertise, once our north star, now flickers dimly beneath the glow of virality.

So, what happened? Why have we collectively stopped listening to people who know what they’re talking about?

The Fall from Grace

In the early 20th century, experts were synonymous with authority. If a doctor told you to quit smoking, you quit. If a professor published a book, you read it. If your trainer said, "do ten more," you didn’t argue.

Fast forward to 2025, and that trust has evaporated. A recent Fortune article reports that Gen Z teens now trust influencers more than experts when it comes to health advice. Let that sink in. More people will take fitness cues from a shredded guy on TikTok than from a certified strength coach who’s studied kinesiology for twenty years.

What changed?

Daniel H. Pink’s Warning

In To Sell Is Human, Daniel H. Pink outlines a seismic shift: from information asymmetry to information parity. There was a time when the seller knew everything, and the buyer knew nothing. If you wanted a mortgage, a diagnosis, a car—you depended entirely on the expert.

But now, everyone has Google. You walk into a doctor’s office armed with WebMD symptoms and Reddit forums. You show up to the gym quoting Andrew Huberman. You meet your financial advisor already suspicious because TikTok told you mutual funds are a scam.

The expert has lost their monopoly on knowledge. And with that, they’ve lost the benefit of the doubt.

From Authority to Algorithm

The internet didn’t just level the playing field—it bulldozed it. Now, authority is conferred not by credentials, but by likes. Visibility, not veracity, is the new measure of credibility. If your video gets shared enough, you’re considered right—no matter how wrong you are.

As Derek Thompson writes in The Atlantic, we’ve watched experts botch some very big calls. The COVID response. Economic predictions. Nutrition guidance that flip-flops every few years. The public remembers. And forgives less and less.

So, we started turning to people who feel more human. They might be less educated, but they’re more relatable. They talk like us. They feel like us. And in a world, that’s skeptical of institutions, relatability often beats rigor.

The Age of Exertainment

Nowhere is this dynamic more obvious than in the fitness world. On one side, you have trainers who study biomechanics, periodization, progressive overload. On the other, you have influencers doing cartwheels on a Bosu ball to Drake remixes.

Guess who’s winning the attention game?

Exertainment is fast, flashy, and filter-friendly. It entertains under the guise of educating. Training, on the other hand, is methodical. It’s measured. It demands patience—and that doesn’t trend.

But only one of them actually changes lives.

In Chicago Booth Review, a compelling case is made: the salvation of expertise won’t come from reclaiming lost authority, but from building human connection. People trust people who feel like they care.

The Empathic Expert

Michael Lewis, in his podcast Against the Rules, delves into how modern trust is earned. It’s not enough to be right—you have to be real.

The coach who shares their own struggles with body image. The therapist who admits to burnout. The dietitian who posts their favorite cheat meals. These are the new experts, not because their knowledge is lesser, but because their humanity is more visible.

We are not asking, “What do you know?” We’re asking, “Do you get what I’m going through?”

Experts who ignore this are being left behind.

The Path Forward

So, what does redemption look like? It doesn’t mean experts need to water down their knowledge. It means they must translate it. Make it digestible. Make it useful. Make it personal.

Speak Plainly

If people don’t understand you, they won’t trust you. Ditch the jargon. Explain the science like you're talking to your neighbor over coffee.

Be Accessible

If you’re only available by appointment, you’re already losing to someone on YouTube who posts daily. Use your platforms. Engage. Reply. Show up.

Be Honest

Not everything works for everyone. Admit that. Don’t sell certainty. Sell support.

Educate, Don’t Entertain

This doesn’t mean you can’t be charismatic. It means your charisma should support your value—not substitute for it.

The Return of the Expert

The expert is not dead.

They are simply being asked to evolve. To stop standing behind the podium, and start standing beside the people.

The world still craves substance. It still respects mastery. It still rewards results.

But it needs those things wrapped in empathy, humility, and humanity.

If you’ve put in the work, you’re not obsolete—you’re essential. Just don’t expect anyone to care unless you show them that you care first.

Because in a noisy world, it’s not enough to be an expert. You have to be someone worth listening to.

Sources:

• Daniel H. Pink, To Sell Is Human

• Michael Lewis, Against the Rules

• Fortune, "Gen Z Teens Trust Influencers More Than Experts" (Feb 2025)

• Vox, "Michael Lewis on the Fall of the Expert Class"

• Chicago Booth Review, "The Downfall—and Possible Salvation—of Expertise"

• The Atlantic, "When Experts Fail" (March 2024)

At Evolve Fitness Studio, we’re not just building stronger bodies—we’re restoring belief.

• Belief in science—because your body deserves more than just guesswork.

• Belief in service—because every rep should feel personal.

• Belief in trust—because when we say we’ve got your back, we mean it.

In a world full of noise, we offer clarity. In a culture driven by hype, we offer results. If you’re tired of following influencers and ready to work with actual experts who listen, guide, and deliver—this is your sign.

Book your FREE assessment today and let’s find out what’s possible when you move with purpose. Call us at (973) 352-0933.  Because you don’t need another trend—you need a team.