Conversations with Peter Boghossian

Meet Alexander Huang, Chairman of Taiwan's Council on Strategic & Wargaming Studies. In this conversation, we focus on the geopolitical dynamics involving Taiwan, China, and the United States. Alexander emphasizes the critical importance of Taiwan's ties with the West due to its strategic location and its role as a major producer of 90% of the world's advanced semiconductors. He asserts that if Taiwan falls from Western influence, China emerges victorious. The discussion also covers Taiwan's close watch on the U.S. election, which they believe will significantly impact their future. Additionally, we explore topics such as nuclear weapons, the potential gun rights for Taiwanese citizens, and the social resilience of the population during wartime. This intense conversation provides valuable insights into the complex interplay between Taiwan, China, and the United States. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Wael Taji Miller is a Visiting Fellow at the Mathias Corvinus Collegium's School of Psychology. Taji's research focuses on the intersection of innovation, evolved psychology, and contemporary societal challenges. We discussed social and cultural evolution, particularly the implications of losing our capacity to engage differing viewpoints. We agreed that the erosion of the possibility of dialogue with those who hold opposing perspectives poses a threat to society. This is a kind of cultural decay that's linked not only to entrenched ideologies but also to the challenges posed by modern technology, which too often amplifies division rather than fostering understanding. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Mia Hughes is an Ottawa-based British journalist and researcher for Michael Shellenberger's nonprofit, Environmental Progress. Mia authored the WPATH Files report, which exposed widespread medical mistreatment of children, adolescents, and vulnerable adults in the realm of gender-affirming care. We were both in Lisbon, Portugal, for the Genspect conference—which uncoincidentally coincided with WPATH's conference. (NB I reached out to WPATH organizers and speakers to have a conversation about their reasoning for gender-affirming care. As expected, I received no responses. Throughout this conversation I made an effort to steelman WPATH arguments.) Mia and I began with the concept of "Gender Soul." This led to a discussion about medical interventions in gender-affirming care. Watch this episode on YouTube.

StealthGPT can write academic papers. It can also write peer-reviewed papers and Ph.D. theses. And it can write them in such a way that they are undetectable by AI. In this conversation, I talk with Jozef Gherman, creator of StealthGPT. Jozef on X Watch this episode on YouTube.

In this conversation with author and consultant Africa Brooke, we discuss addiction, self-sabotage, and self-censorship. Africa shares her journey from Zimbabwe to the United Kingdom and how it shaped her understanding of the world and herself—including her struggle with a ten-year alcohol addiction. Writing became a lifeline as did helping others to understand and identify self-sabotage: what are we trying to escape from, and why do we fall into destructive patterns? Africa's book, "The Third Perspective" Watch this episode on YouTube.

Dr. Jan Bentz is a lecturer and tutor at Oxford who specializes in the convergence of medieval and modern philosophy. We covered a wide range of philosophical themes, truth, delusions of utopia, applied epistemology, the importance of friendship, the nature of realism, and if we can claim to know something absent the "dogma" of the scientific method. How does caring for others influence our epistemology? Jan delved into the nature of identity, arguing that when it is rooted in the "I" (Descartes) it can lead to more problems than when it is based in a shared reality (which allows for the acceptance of others). Watch this episode on YouTube.

Dr. Staley has taught computer science at UC Santa Barbara, Cal Poly SLO, and Principia College. He has also built software, managed development projects, and co-founded several small software companies. We explored the age-old question of how to measure right and wrong, especially in the context of advancing technology, AI, and robotics. We also discussed the philosophical implications of AI and consciousness and more! Watch this episode on YouTube.

I had the pleasure of conversing with Kirsten Hall Herlin, an Assistant Professor at UATX, a distinguished scholar of literature, and the managing editor of the Genealogies of Modernity Journal. We discussed the intricacies of writing and the role of literature in shaping our lives and understanding the world. Kirsten and I explored the impact of AI and Critical Social Justice on the humanities. Could AI ever win a Pulitzer Prize? Does human consciousness play a crucial role in the writing process? Are the nuances of personal experience, emotional understanding, and subjective thought beyond AI's reach? Or can those be faked? We also considered how societal division has affected the humanities and whether great literature can help unite us. Watch this episode on YouTube.

I had a conversation with Joesph Henrich, a distinguished anthropologist and evolutionary biologist at Harvard. Renowned for his interdisciplinary research on cultural evolution and the origins of WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic) societies, Joseph is a deep dude. We had a wide-ranging discussion on topics such as cultural learning, social contagion, and the WEIRD phenomenon. We explored the interplay between truth and religion, the economic and political impacts of kinship structures, and cognitive development in non-schooled environments. Additionally, we talked about David Deutsch's work on falsifiability and its role in building systems of knowledge, divination, witchcraft, rationality, and the question of who might be considered the "weirdest" people in the world. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Yasmine Mohammed and Peter Boghossian discuss women's oppression under Islam and Western Feminism's silence on the issue. Follow Yasmine: Free Hearts Free Minds Yasmine Mohammad Podcast Yasmine's book, "Unveiled: How the West Empowers Radical Muslims" Clarity Coalition Yasmine on Instagram, Facebook, and X Watch this episode on YouTube.

While in Denver with the University of Austin for the Life of Mind Tour, I had a deep conversation about philosophy with Alex Priou. Alex is a professor, philosopher, author, and contributor to The New Thinkery podcast. We talked about the fragility of civilization, what constitutes a good life, and what happens when one's beliefs have been hijacked by ideology. Alex on X Watch this episode on YouTube.

Greg Lukianoff (FIRE organization) is doing crucial work in promoting free speech and defending the rights of individuals who have faced repercussions for their speech. We discussed schools on FIRE's Free Speech List and the associated violators as well as the teacher's unions' ideological capture. The conversation took an unexpected turn when we began talking about people we know in the public space—Greg then used the phrase "name-dropping". More from Greg: Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression Greg on X Watch this episode on YouTube.

Alan Davison is one of the leading international scholars in the field of cultural history of the long nineteenth century, focusing on the intersection of music and visual culture, portraits of musicians and the reception and representation of the famous Hungarian composer-pianist Franz Liszt. In this episode, Alan and Peter discuss Critical Theory, the ideological capture of universities, and why bad ideas flourish in academic settings. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Jeremy Carl is a senior fellow at the Claremont Institute and has had a varied career, primarily in the public policy arena. His work at Claremont examines nationalism, immigration, technology, and a variety of other subjects. Prior to joining Claremont, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior under President Trump. In this episode, Peter and Jeremy discuss Jeremy's new book, The Unprotected Class: How Anti-White Racism Is Tearing America Apart. They discuss this topic as well as Critical Race Theory, Social Justice, and more. Jeremy on X: https://x.com/realJeremyCarl Jeremy's website: https://www.jeremycarl.com/ Watch the episode on YouTube.

Clint Chavarria, aka Classic Liberal, American patriot and family man, posts on X about Classic Liberalism, Scottish Realism and Anti-Communism. Peter and Clint discuss these topics and more. Links to charts mentioned: https://coggle.it/diagram/Zr2IjPq-Gy45wX-M/t/christianity https://i0.wp.com/authortomharper.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Dialectical-Synthesis-of-Critical-Race-Theory.png Watch this episode on YouTube.

Writer Rupa Subramanya and Peter Boghossian discuss Canada's current affairs, the 2024 US Election, the "Right to die" movement, and more. Rupa Subramanya is a writer based in Ottawa, Canada. She began her writing career at the Wall Street Journal India with a weekly column focusing on the intersection of economics, politics, and public policy. Her work has been cited in the New York Times, Financial Times, and the Guardian among others. She currently writes a regular column for the National Post. Find Rupa on X. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Peter and Erik talk about therapy, masculinity, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Erik Anderson is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a private practice located in Los Angeles, California. He holds a third degree black belt in BJJ under Chris Haueter. More from Erik: Erik's Therapy Practice Train BJJ with Erik Watch this episode on YouTube.

In a recent conversation with Naomi Riley, a senior fellow at AEI and child welfare expert, Christina Buttons and I dived into a deeply disturbing topic: the factors damaging child welfare. Riley argues that the emphasis on anti-racism has inadvertently harmed child protection efforts in the United States. Antiracist ideology has led to the wholesale corruption of social work institutions (and individual social workers), which are crucial for protecting child welfare; this has had detrimental impacts on children in various settings, from foster care to homeless encampments. Watch this episode on YouTube.

I just wrapped up a great conversation with author and public intellectual Frank Furedi, who is ever-interesting. Frank has a new book, The War Against the Past, which I haven't read yet but is on my must-read list. Given Frank's heterodox and thoughtful writings, I've put this on my "Must Read" list. Frank and I frequently cross paths at conferences, and I always find his commentary insightful and clear. Although we strongly disagree on some issues, I've always found Frank open to conversation, dialogue, and even friendly debate. We discussed the politicization of identity and his concept of "decivilization," which he explains in detail. I also asked him about his shift from the far left to his now conservative views. We touched on species relativism (versus cultural, moral, or epistemological relativism), as well as the impact of politicization on public discourse and his work with MCC's think tank in Brussels. I'm looking forward to speaking with Frank at Genspect in Portugal and seeing him again in Hungary and possibly Romania. I hope you enjoy our episode. Thanks!

I recently had a conversation with Eli Steele (son of the legendary author Shelby Steele), an award-winning documentary filmmaker. We discussed his incisive, engaging, and timely film, Killing America. Killing America exposes pervasive anti-Semitism in the school system, what keeps it there, and the sickeningly underwhelming responses to it. Eli's sincerity and passion for improving America were evident throughout our conversation and indeed permeates his body of work. I highly encourage you to explore his films. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Johann Hari is a British-Swiss author and journalist, known for his books and his articles in The Independent and Huffington Post. Since 2015, his writing has primarily dealt with the war on drugs, mental illness, and decreasing attention spans. His books on these subjects include Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs, Lost Connections, and Stolen Focus. In this video, Christina Buttons, Johann Hari, and Peter Boghossian discuss Johann's new book, "Magic Pill: The Extraordinary Benefits and Disturbing Risks of the New Weight-Loss Drugs". Watch this episode on YouTube.

It was a distinct pleasure to speak with Gurwinder Bhogal (G), a British writer and public intellectual whom I respect tremendously. Our conversation covered a wide range of topics, including perceptions of Donald Trump, the implications of a Harris-Trump election, the recent assassination attempt on Trump's life, and then shifted to philosophical issues. Previous interview with Gurwinder Watch this episode on YouTube.

I traveled to Texas to meet Dr. Eithan Haim after losing a $1000 bet with Chris Rufo. Little did I know, losing a $1000 bet with Chris Rufo would lead to one of the most impactful conversations of my life with Dr. Eithan Haim, a courageous whistleblower who exposed Texas Children's Hospital's blatant lies regarding their transgender program for children. Watch this episode on YouTube.

I had a conversation with Alex Balekian, a congressional candidate for California's 30th congressional district. I invited his political opponent, Laura Friedman, to join me for a discussion on the show, but she initially claimed not to have received the email and later said she was too busy. As a result, I engaged in a simulated debate with ChatGPT, where it represented her perspective. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Eric Kaufmann recently authored the book "The Third Awokening: A 12-Point Plan for Rolling Back Progressive Extremism." Eric is a friend of the show and known for his data-driven, thoughtful analysis. During our conversation, Eric made a striking observation: "30% of Democrats wish the attempted assassination on Trump's life had succeeded." This statistic is deeply alarming and underscores broader societal tensions in the United States. In addition to discussing the attempted assassination of Trump, our conversation delved into sensitive topics such as race and IQ, Islam in the UK, and I even suggested that the UK might contemplate surrendering sovereignty at some point. We also touched upon the current political landscape, resulting in a spicy interview. Eric on X: https://twitter.com/epkaufm Watch this episode on YouTube.

I recently had a really interesting conversation with my dear friend Faisal Al Mutar. Faisal is from war-torn Iraq, and he's the most American person I have ever met. He leads Ideas Beyond Borders, an organization dedicated to translating Enlightenment texts into Arabic, among other impactful initiatives. During our conversation, Faisal and I discussed the attempted assassination of Donald Trump and its implications, particularly in the context of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts. We also explored Trump's choice for a new Vice President, contrasting Vice President Harris and discussing the Democratic Party's current situation. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Luke Rudkowski and Peter Boghossian engage in a candid conversation about current events affecting the West. Luke emphasizes his steadfast principles of advocating for free speech, opposing war, and decentralizing power, which have remained consistent despite external pressures. He also addresses the challenges of navigating a landscape filled with insincere individuals and emphasizes the need for sincerity and intellectual honesty in public discourse. Luke Rudkowski is a cultural commentator and host of "We Are Change". Watch this episode on YouTube.

In Peter's second interview with Chris Martenson, the two analyze the precarious state of global economies, particularly focusing on Japan's economic trajectory as a cautionary tale for the United States. They advocate for honest dialogue and collective action to address impending economic catastrophes as brought on by an inability to pay the debt, emphasizing fiscal responsibility and the need for communities to unite in navigating during the coming economic calamity. Chris Martenson, Ph.D., MBA is an economic researcher and futurist, and founder of PeakProsperity.com. His COVID video series garnered more than 40 million views and has helped millions better understand, adapt, and prepare for the Pandemic of 2020. Peter's previous interview with Chris Watch this episode on YouTube.

Author and journalist Meghan Daum is the host of "The Unspeakable Podcast," an interview show that questions prevailing narratives. She realized that women with heterodox views did not have a space to hash out thoughts about the current cultural moment, so she created one. Thus, "Unspeak Easy" was born, an online and in-person community where women can share their thoughts. In this interview, Meghan and Peter discuss various personal and societal perspectives on family, parenting, and ideological divides. Topics include parenthood, adoption, the choice not to have children, and more. Meghan Daum is an author, journalist, and the host of "The Unspeakable Podcast." Meghan on X: https://x.com/meghan_daum Watch this episode on YouTube.

Peter Boghossian, Christina Buttons, and Jill Escher have a candid conversation about autism. They explore key issues in autism research and community support, limited genetic findings despite extensive study, the potential of AI in risk detection and support automation, and the impact of prenatal hormone exposure on autism and gender development. Jill notes that transgender identification is possibly linked to these factors. She stresses the need for nuanced understanding and empathy in autism discussions, emphasizing the field's complexity and unanswered questions. Jill Escher is an autism research philanthropist though the Escher Fund for Autism. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Peter Boghossian and Andrew Gallimore explore the profound effects of DMT (Dimethyltryptamine) on consciousness. They discuss DMT's production of robustly coherent environments and "non-adaptable perceptions" as a casual explanation of DMT realms. Andrew also shares insights into DMT's entities and intelligences and they devise a test for evaluating the ontological status of DMT realms. Andrew Gallimore is a neurobiologist, chemist, pharmacologist, and writer interested in the relationship between psychedelic drugs, the brain, consciousness, and the structure of reality. He is based in Tokyo, Japan. Watch this episode on YouTube.

BJJ legend Chris Haueter covers diverse topics from martial arts philosophy to political discourse. He links principles of Jiu-Jitsu to broader societal issues, discussing the balance between art, sport, and street applications in training. Haueter critiques modern political polarization and advocates for substantive dialogue over mudslinging. Chris is a 5th degree Black Belt and member of the dirty dozen (the first 12 non-Brazilian black belts). He was the first American to submit a Brazilian in competition, the first American to compete as a black belt at the Mundials in Brazil and he continues to travel the world spreading his Jiu-Jitsu philosophy of think street, train sport, and practice art. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Peter Boghossian and popular YouTuber King Crocoduck explore the erosion of traditional sources of meaning and the growing reliance on corrupt alternatives. They emphasize the importance of robust epistemology necessary for societal progress and individual well-being. Topics include meaning in life, hedonism, the implications of naturalism and Darwinism, and more. King Crocoduck is a biomedical physicist, philosopher, and YouTuber. He asked to remain anonymous in this interview. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Jack Posobiec and Peter Boghossian discuss Jack's new book, Unhumans: The Secret History of Communist Revolutions (and How to Crush Them), for which Peter wrote a blurb. They explore the history of communism and its modern-day manifestations, and why Jack refers to the fomenters of communist revolutions as "unhumans". Peter pushes back on Jack's thesis and other particulars in his book, and Jack responds to Peter's criticism. Jack Posobiec is the senior editor at Human Events and host of Human Events Daily. He is the co-author of Unhumans: The Secret History of Communist Revolutions (and How to Crush Them). Watch this episode on YouTube.

Exulansic shares her personal journey from identifying as transgender to becoming critical of gender-affirming care. She discusses her experiences and doubts about the irreversible effects of gender transition surgeries, the lack of sufficient informed consent for patients, and the ideological biases in medical practices. Exulansic creates radical feminist/gender critical content in the form of reaction videos, interviews, and lectures for YouTube as well as articles for publications such as American Mind and Substack. Formerly a female who identified as trans and later as non-binary, Exulansic's work focuses on all angles of trans ideology, especially complications of gender-affirming medicine. NB Peter was sick during this interview. However, as Exulansic had to cancel their previous interview they decided to move forward and have the conversation. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Peter Boghossian and Will Reusch discuss critical thinking's pivotal role in fostering curiosity, challenging assumptions, and promoting intellectual humility. They explore educational methods like Socratic questioning and practical experiments, emphasizing openness to new ideas and rational discourse as essential for personal growth and societal progress. Will Reusch is an educator and mentor with a mission to promote viewpoint diversity & critical thinking in high school education. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Peter Boghossian and Andrew Hartz, Ph.D. discuss the influence of societal taboos like cancel culture on OCD symptoms. Andrew raises concerns about bias and ideological influences in mental health training, the politicization of therapy, and the misuse of therapeutic terms on social media. The conversation also covers emotional avoidance, optimal anxiety levels for performance, and the need for personalized therapeutic approaches amidst the negative impact of institutional ideologies on mental health practices. Andrew Hartz, Ph.D. is a professor of clinical psychology at Long Island University in Brooklyn. He uses evidence-based tools from CBT, DBT, and psychodynamic psychotherapies to address each patient's unique needs. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Mark Pellegrino covers diverse topics in this video, sharing insights from his life in Paris, evolving political views on individual freedoms and economic policies, and discussing philosophical perspectives on mental health and societal challenges. Mark and Peter also reflect on the community dynamics and personal growth lessons from practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Wilfred Reilly, Peter Boghossian, and Christina Buttons critically examine societal issues from gender norms to the impact of media biases on public discourse. Topics include desistance rates among youth with gender dysphoria, critical race theory, top issues affecting the US, and more! Wilfred's book, "Lies My Liberal Teacher Told Me" Watch this episode on YouTube.

Lou Perez and Peter Boghossian discuss comedy, self-defense, and resilience. They explore universal comedic elements like absurdity and timing, discusses how comedy challenges norms, and shares personal insights from Jiu-Jitsu and knife fighting. They also reflect on humor's cultural impact, question AI's creative abilities in comedy, and examine societal attitudes towards personal safety. Lou Perez is a comedian, writer, producer, and actor. He is the author of THAT JOKE ISN'T FUNNY ANYMORE: ON THE DEATH AND REBIRTH OF COMEDY. He is the host of The Lou Perez Podcast. Lou on X Lou's website Watch this episode on YouTube.

Departing from the channel's usual content, Zuby and Peter discuss Zuby's career, his life in Dubai, and his advice on health, fitness, diet, and everything in between. Zuby is a musician, author, podcaster, public speaker, fitness expert, and life coach. He is a public figure and influential voice, whose unique perspective, authenticity, and positive energy have earned him nearly two million followers on social media and 50 million+ online video views. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Peter Boghossian and Jonathan Shedler discuss various aspects of psychotherapy and societal dynamics. Jonathan highlights the importance of traditional therapy in fostering self-awareness and freedom and the necessity for therapists to understand psychological principles deeply. He also touches upon societal issues like rising healthcare costs and the influence of borderline traits on extreme political positions, suggesting open dialogue and cooperative scenarios as potential solutions. American psychologist Jonathan Shedler, PhD is known internationally as an author, consultant, researcher, and speaker. He is best known for his article The Efficacy of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, which won worldwide acclaim for firmly establishing psychoanalytic therapy as an evidence-based treatment. Jonathan's website Watch the episode on YouTube.

Peter Boghossian and Educator Warren Smith discuss teaching methods, belief systems, and truth. Peter and Warren are later joined by some guy named John (Doug Pinecreek), who shares their approach to teaching life skills. They question John about his refusal to pay for his son's college tuition. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Economist Bryan Caplan joins Peter Boghossian to discuss Caplan's latest book "Open Borders". They delve into the complexities of immigration's impact on origin and destination countries, addressing environmental concerns, fiscal contributions, and the scalability of immigration policies. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Doug Pinecreek and Peter Boghossian do a call-in show and discuss various topics like atheism, critical theory, education, and psychedelics. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Longtime friends Peter Boghossian and Michael Shermer sit down to talk about ideological capture in American institutions, skepticism, the Grievance Studies Affair, the Fermi Paradox, and more! Dr. Michael Shermer is the founding publisher of Skeptic magazine, the host of The Michael Shermer Show, and a Presidential Fellow at Chapman University where he teaches Skepticism 101. Michael wrote a monthly column for Scientific American for 18 years. He is the author of several books, including his most recent, "Conspiracy: Why the Rational Believe the Irrational" His next book is set to be published in Fall 2025. Watch this episode on YouTube.

University of Toronto Professor Leigh Revers and Peter Boghossian discuss challenges in STEM education, including the integration of indigenous science and the use of diversity criteria in academic evaluations. Leigh highlights the need for academic rigor and criticizes oversimplified teaching methods, emphasizing the importance of maintaining intellectual diversity in education. His experience with this is firsthand - this year, the University of Toronto Mississauga sanctioned him for using Spectrum Street Epistemology in the classroom. Leigh Revers is an Associate Professor at the Institute for Manage­ment & Innov­ation at the Univers­ity of Toronto Mississauga. Leigh on X Watch this episode on YouTube.

Island dweller Helen Pluckrose and continent inhabiter Peter Boghossian sit down to discuss the downfall of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Helen explains DEI's underpinnings, specifically postmodern thought and critical theory, and the blind pursuit of "equity" that drives this ideology. The two also address the need for institutions to transparently admit their mistakes and the crisis of legitimacy. Other topics include liberalism, the need for individualism, how people find meaning, and more! Helen Pluckrose is a British author and cultural writer known for critiques of critical social justice and promotion of liberal ethics, notably in the Grievance Studies Affair (along with Peter Boghossian and James Lindsay). More from Helen: Substack Twitter/X The Counterweight Handbook, Helen's new book Watch this episode on YouTube.

Driven by technology's inability to address societal issues rooted in biases, Gurwinder "G" Bhogal shifted his career from technology to debugging the human mind. He discusses biases in large language models (LLMs), their manipulation by left-leaning initiatives, and the challenge to test and correct AI biases. G, Christina Buttons, and Peter Boghossian analyze G's Twitter/X thread titled, "10 WAYS TO AVOID BEING FOOLED," where G gave "10 heuristics that will make you smarter." They discuss the importance of understanding opposing viewpoints, critically evaluating information sources, truth-seeking, news consumption habits, and more! Watch this episode on YouTube.