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Conversations with Peter Boghossian

Conversations with Peter Boghossian

265 episodes — Page 4 of 6

From Dojo to Democracy: Chris Haueter on Martial Arts and Politics

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.

Jul 3, 20241h 26m

Is Society ERODING? Exploring The Crisis of Meaning with King Crocoduck

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.

Jun 28, 20241h 26m

Jack Posobiec Unmasks Everything You Don't Know About Communism

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.

Jun 26, 20241h 41m

Exulansic's Journey From Transgender to Discovering the Truth About Gender-Affirming Care

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.

Jun 26, 20241h 29m

Putting Critical Thinking Back Into Education w/Will Reusch

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.

Jun 21, 20241h 28m

The Politicization of Therapy with Andrew Hartz, Ph.D.

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.

Jun 19, 20241h 30m

Mark Pellegrino Reflects on Objectivism, Life in Paris, National Debt, & More

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.

Jun 17, 20241h 19m

Lies Our Liberal Society Told You w/Wilfred Reilly & Christina Buttons

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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.

Jun 17, 20241h 43m

"Humor Can Challenge Societal Norms." Comedy In Modern Society w/Lou Perez

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.

Jun 14, 20241h 20m

Zuby's Top Tips for a Healthy Body & Mind

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.

Jun 12, 20241h 6m

How People's Worst Impulses Become Construed As Virtues w/Dr. Jonathan Shedler

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.

Jun 6, 20241h 24m

Teaching Tactics To Redefine Education w/Warren Smith & Some Guy Named John

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.

Jun 4, 20241h 32m

An Economist Argues For OPEN BORDERS W/Bryan Caplan

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.

Jun 1, 20241h 34m

Academic Corruption, Psychedelics, & More: CALL-IN Show with Peter Boghossian & Doug Pinecreek (Recap)

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.

May 31, 20241h 56m

Michael Shermer: Why the Rational Believe the Irrational, Skeptic Movement, & More

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.

May 24, 20241h 31m

Professor REPRIMANDED For Encouraging Discussion & Using Spectrum Street Epistemology w/Leigh Revers

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.

May 22, 20241h 24m

DEI: The Three Blind "Virtues," with Helen Pluckrose

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.

May 16, 20241h 28m

Tech & AI MANIPULATED With Identitarian Views? With Gurwinder Bhogal & Christina Buttons

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.

May 16, 20241h 26m

Society's Issues & How To Fix Them w/Attorney Matt Bilinsky

Matt Bilinsky and Peter Boghossian cover various topical stories such as plagiarism and academic corruption, the downfall of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, self-defense, and more. Matt Bilinsky is a Los Angeles-based media and technology attorney, as well as the host of The Prevailing Narrative podcast where he discusses the political, cultural, and social issues of the day. Matt is a frequent contributor to Fox News, Talk TV UK, and Axios. Watch this episode on YouTube.

May 16, 20241h 2m

Dave Rubin On The Direction of the Republican Party, 2024 Election, and America's Future

Dave Rubin and Peter Boghossian sit down at Dave's studio in Miami, FL to discuss the Trump-Biden runoff, Critical Social Justice Ideology, and the current state of the country. Dave shares his thoughts on the Trump-Biden runoff, why homelessness is not prevalent in Florida, and the breakdown of law and order in Democrat-run cities. He also discuss the Republican Party's shortcomings on messaging around abortion and elections. Peter Boghossian on The Rubin Report: Dave Rubin plays Spectrum Street Epistemology Watch this episode on YouTube.

May 7, 202450 min

VP Libertarian Candidate Clint Russell EXPOSES How The Federal Reserve Runs America

Clint Russell is the host of Liberty Lockdown and the Co-Host of The Best Political Show. He is running for Vice President under the Libertarian ticket. The conversation begins with a discussion about Clint's run for VP, what Libertarianism is, and the problems presented by the political binary in America. Peter and Clint agree on how massive money printing causes many of America's economic ills, but goes largely ignored by both Trump and Biden. This leads to a fascinating conversation about the Federal Reserve System (the central bank), America's reckless foreign policy, WWIII fears, and much more. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Apr 30, 20241h 20m

Atheism vs Christianity: Is There EVIDENCE That God Exists? With Nate Sala

Nate Sala and Peter Boghossian discuss the importance of engaging in respectful conversations and the need for cognitive liberty. They explore topics such as the nature of belief, logic, and the role of religion in society. Nate Sala is the founder of The Wise Disciple, a website and YouTube channel teaching Christians how to properly engage arguments against Christianity. Follow Nate on X. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Apr 30, 20241h 2m

Peter Boghossian and Julie Bindel DISAGREE About Women's Self-Defense

Peter Boghossian and Julie Bindel discuss women's self-defense and the challenges women face in dealing with male violence. They debate the effectiveness of self-defense measures and the responsibility of society in addressing the issue. Julie Bindel is a feminist campaigner, writer, and investigative journalist. Her latest book is Feminism for Women: The Real Route to Liberation (Little Brown, 2021), which explores the tsunami of misogynistic backlash that feminists have encountered this past decade and more. More from Julie: Book, "Feminism for Women: The Real Route to Liberation" Julie on X Julie's Substack Watch this episode on YouTube.

Apr 29, 20241h 0m

Destiny Cross-Examines Peter Boghossian's Beliefs | Grifting, Virtue Signaling, Hungary, & More!

Peter Boghossian and Steven Bonnell II, better known as "Destiny," have an intense 90-minute discussion in which the two explore social media's intensification of political divides, virtue signaling, and what to do about toxic discourse. Peter invites Destiny to cross-examine his beliefs, which Destiny does with gusto. They also discuss people's reluctance to engage opposing views, "grifting," Hungary, virtue signaling, echo chambers, epistemology, and more! Destiny is a live-streamer, gamer, and political commentator. Destiny's channel: https://www.youtube.com/@destiny Destiny on X: https://twitter.com/TheOmniLiberal Watch this episode on YouTube.

Apr 24, 20241h 37m

High Court UPHOLDS Prayer Ban: An Inside Look At The UK's Strictest School w/Katharine Birbalsingh

Katharine Birbalsingh is a British teacher and education reform advocate. She is the founder and Headmistress of Michaela Community School, a free school established in 2014 in Wembley Park, London. Despite achieving remarkable results for students, Michaela faces political resistance due to its traditional approach, and prioritizing hard work and academic rigor over identity politics. Katharine discusses this opposition (which mostly comes from the political left) as well as the importance of integration among students. The discussion extends to broader societal issues at the intersection of race and education. Katharine instituted a prayer ban at the school, and an incident between a Muslim student and the school was taken to the High Court of Justice. On April 16th, 2024, the High Court ruled in Katharine's favor. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Apr 16, 20241h 38m

Accepting Biological Sex IS Compassionate | Kara Dansky

Kara Dansky is a feminist, lawyer, and author of The Abolition of Sex: How the "Transgender" Agenda Harms Women and Girls. In this interview, Kara's shirt reads "infamous TERF writer," a label given to her by commentator Sam Seder after he reacted to an interaction on Twitter/X between Kara and Christopher Rufo. The conversation begins with rapid-fire commentary on feminism, surrogacy, pornography, and other issues that affect women. This sets up the rest of the conversation, which deals with the encroachment on women's rights by the trans and gender identity movement. Kara touches on the political aspects of this cultural battle, concluding that neither Democrats nor Republicans are truly making a difference in women's rights issues. She explains the dangers of gender identity ideology to the main goal of radical feminism: protecting women. Kara serves as the president of the US chapter of Women's Declaration International and previously served on the board of the Women's Liberation Front. She started her law and policy career as a public defender and went on to serve as executive director of the Stanford Criminal Justice Center, senior counsel at the ACLU's Center for Justice, and general counsel at the District of Columbia Sentencing Commission. Kara on X Watch this episode on YouTube.

Apr 3, 20241h 12m

"The Business Model Of Big Pharma Is Fraud" A Look At Rigged Medicine with Dr. Paul Marik

Dr. Marik is an accomplished physician with special knowledge in a diverse set of medical fields, with specific training in Internal Medicine, Critical Care, Neurocritical Care, Pharmacology, Anesthesia, Nutrition, and Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. He is a former tenured Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) in Norfolk, Virginia. In January 2022 Dr. Marik retired from EVMS to focus on continuing his leadership of the FLCCC and has already co-authored over 10 papers on therapeutic aspects of treating COVID-19. In March 2022 Dr. Marik received a commendation by unanimous vote by the Virginia House of Delegates for "his courageous treatment of critically ill COVID-19 patients and his philanthropic efforts to share his effective treatment protocols with physicians around the world." In this conversation at the FLCCC conference, Dr. Marik and I discuss fraud and corruption in medical institutions, as well as the distrust in Big Pharma after the pandemic. More from Dr. Paul Marik: Dr. Marik on X Books by Dr. Marik More about the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC): Substack The FLCCC Alliance Community Watch panels and discussions where this interview was filmed here. Peter Boghossian's talk at the FLCCC Conference A recent huge win for the FLCCC regarding Ivermectin Watch this episode on YouTube.

Mar 26, 202445 min

Cultural Conflicts & How Identity Politics Ruin Us with Jens Heycke

Jens Heycke was educated in Economics and Near Eastern Studies at the University of Chicago, the London School of Economics, and Princeton University. Since retiring from the tech startup industry, he has worked as an independent researcher and writer on culture and ethnic conflict, conducting field research around the world, from Bosnia to Botswana. The conversation begins with the cultural term "melting pot," which was a commonly used term in recent American history. Backed by his research, Jens explains why it is harmful to identify people based on race or immutable characteristics. This led to further conversation about the integration of immigrants, affirmative action, identity politics, and more. Midway through the conversation, Peter steelmans claims from Jens's book, Out of the Melting Pot, Into the Fire. The resulting discussion is as fascinating as it is *truly* diverse—Jens pulls data and anecdotes from the 40 countries he visited while researching and writing his book. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Mar 19, 20241h 15m

The Rise of Jew Hatred On College Campuses | Peter Boghossian & Karys Rhea

Karys Rhea is a producer of "American Thought Leaders" and "Fallout" at The Epoch Times and a fellow with The Jewish Leadership Project. She also works with the Middle East Forum and Baste Records. She has appeared on Newsmax, OANN, Real America's Voice, NTD News, and a variety of podcasts, and her articles can be found in Commentary, NY Daily News, Newsweek, The Federalist, Washington Examiner, and more. The conversation begins with the current state of antisemitism on American college campuses. Karys underscores the hypocrisy of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) administrators when it comes to the hatred of Jews on college campuses, and in some cases, the encouragement of discrimination under the guise of leftwing intersectional values. The discussion then evolves into broader hatred of Jews: its historic and current tropes, leftwing vs rightwing antisemitism, misconceptions, and more. Later, Peter and Karys talk about Israel, Zionism, and Russian influence in how and what the Western world is taught about Jews. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Mar 12, 20241h 57m

David Deutsch, Peter Boghossian, & Reid Nicewonder Talk Fermi Paradox, Ideological Contagion, & More!

Peter Boghossian and Reid Nicewonder, President of Street Epistemology International, are joined by one of their intellectual heroes, David Deutsch. The conversation begins with an exploration of the contagious nature of ideologies, where good intentions can lead to intellectual pitfalls. The three discuss the challenges posed by Social Justice ideology, scrutinizing its evasion tactics in the face of critique and the broader societal implications, such as corrupting peer-reviewed literature and hindering open discourse. Street Epistemology principles underscore the conversation as an antidote to hindering discourse. Other topics in this discussion include problem-solving, philosophy, the Fermi Paradox, cosmic exploration, and more! David Deutsch was born in Haifa, Israel, and pursued his physics studies at Cambridge and Oxford Universities. After spending several years at the University of Texas at Austin, he returned to Oxford, where he currently resides and works. More from David: Website Books To learn more about Street Epistemology, take the free self-directed course, Navigating Beliefs, here. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Mar 5, 20241h 30m

Illegal Immigration, Trump, & the MASSIVE Socio-Political Shifts to Expect in 2024 w/Matt Goodwin

Matt Goodwin is a professor of politics at The School of Politics and International Relations at the University of Kent in Kent, UK. His writing and research primarily focus on radical right-wing politics and Euroscepticism in the British context. Amongst others, his writing has appeared in publications such as The Daily Mail, The Telegraph, The Guardian, and the Evening Standard. He also serves on the Social Mobility Commission via the British Department of Education. Peter and Matt build upon their previous interview and discuss illegal immigration and its effects on society and politics. Matt predicts that mass migration will cause a political rightward shift and a severe backlash from the political left. Matt and Peter then discuss the consequences, including an increase in polarization as a result of the political tumult 2024 is likely to bring. More from Matt: Matt's previous interview with Peter Twitter/X Substack Watch this episode on YouTube.

Feb 27, 20241h 1m

Gender Identity Ideology Is NOT FEMINIST | Peter Boghossian & Vaishnavi Sundar

Vaishnavi Sundar is a feminist, writer, filmmaker & activist from Chennai, India. Her creative work focuses on various human rights issues faced by Indian women. Her previous film "Dysphoric" brought attention to the harms caused by gender identity ideology and her current film, "Behind the Looking Glass", delves into the lives of women whose partners have (or want to) transition. She makes films under her production company, Lime Soda Films, and also founded a group of female filmmakers called Women Making Films. Her upcoming novel will explore the war on merit and the progressive obsession with everyone being the same. More from Vaishnavi: Talks Latest film Watch this episode on YouTube.

Feb 21, 20241h 2m

Downright Dangerous Opinions | Peter Boghossian & Lionel Shriver

Bestselling author & journalist Lionel Shriver is known for her "under-expressed, unpopular, or downright dangerous" views. She is the author of more than two dozen novels, but her latest book is more personal. In "Abominations: Selected Essays from a Career of Courting Self-Destruction," Lionel presents a collection of her most provocative material on topics ranging from religion and mortality to gender and immigration. As a novelist, Lionel is an advocate for artistic freedom. She recently described censorship in the publishing industry in her Roger Scruton lecture at Oxford, titled "When Cowed Creatives Capitulate: Conformity and Bad Art." She is particularly critical of the loss of beauty, style, and wit in modern fiction due to "rectitudinous, censorious, and sanctimonious" ideologies. Lionel's novels include "We Need to Talk About Kevin," which the BBC adapted to film, and New York Times bestsellers "Should We Stay or Should We Go," "So Much for That," and "The Post-Birthday World." She is a columnist for The Spectator and her articles have been published by The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, New York Times, and The Economist, among others. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Feb 20, 20241h 28m

Stephen Woodford & Colin Wright Unravel Dispute Over Gender Identity (Moderated by Peter Boghossian)

English YouTuber and commentator Stephen Woodford and Biologist Dr. Colin Wright discuss their differences about sex and gender. Moderated by Peter Boghossian. Follow Stephen: X YouTube: @rationalityrules Follow Colin: X Substack Previous conversation with Colin Watch this episode on YouTube.

Feb 19, 20242h 2m

California Ballot Initiative to Protect Kids w/Erin Friday (Parents with Inconvenient Truths About Trans)

Erin Friday from Parents with Inconvenient Truths about Trans (PITT) joins Peter Boghossian to discuss a California ballot initiative that seeks to protect kids from harmful gender policies. Sign the petition: https://protectkidsca.com/ More from PITT: Substack Twitter/X YouTube Book, Parents with Inconvenient Truths about Trans: Tales from the Home Front in the Fight to Save Our Kids Watch this episode on YouTube.

Feb 19, 20241h 30m

Boghossian, Linehan, and Kearse Walk into a Park

The only thing better than an interview with Graham Linehan or Leo Kearse is doing Spectrum Street Epistemology with the two simultaneously! Peter Boghossian presents more than 20 claims to the gentleman, unearthing their perspectives on patriarchy, the looming technological singularity, limits of comedy, the BBC, and more. Graham Linehan is an award-winning television writer and the comic genius behind British sitcoms "Father Ted," "The IT Crowd," and "Black Books." He is a vocal advocate for women's rights and children's safety. He recently published his bestselling memoir, "Tough Crowd: How I Made and Lost a Career in Comedy." Leo Kearse is an award-winning comedian with a new weekly show on GB News, "The Saturday Night Showdown." He was banned from his venue at the Australian Perth Fringe Festival after his content was called transphobic--despite writing the material with a transgender woman he was dating. More from Graham: "Tough Crowd: How I Made and Lost a Career in Comedy" by Graham Linehan Substack More from Leo: Website YouTube channel Watch this episode on YouTube.

Feb 16, 202454 min

Spectrum Street Epistemology with Andy Ngo & Eric Kaufmann: Islam, Immigration, Secularism, & More!

Author and journalist Andy Ngo and Professor Eric Kaufmann participated in a Spectrum Street Epistemology exercise in London. The conversation starts with a claim about banning Muslim prayer rituals in public schools. It continues by asking whether the UK should impose a five-year moratorium on immigration, a current debate in the country. This opened up a broader conversation about immigration, cultural assimilation, and national identity. Finally, they examine the question of whether the UK should surrender its current way of life if a majority of the population becomes Muslim in the coming decades. Andy Ngo is the author of the #1 national bestseller, Unmasked: Inside Antifa's Radical Plan to Destroy Democracy. His articles can be found in The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Quillette, New York Post, Fox News, and other publications. Andy is Senior Editor at The Post Millennial. Andy's previous interview on Peter's channel Andy on Locals Dr. Eric Kaufmann is a Professor of Politics at the University of Buckingham. Originally from Vancouver, BC, Canada, he was born in Hong Kong and spent most of the last few decades in the UK. He is principally interested in cultural politics: ethnicity, national identity, left-wing ideology and religion, and has written extensively on these subjects. Eric's previous interview on Peter's channel Eric's website Watch this episode on YouTube.

Feb 15, 202423 min

VIRAL: An Unexpected Conversation With A Boy Genius: What Are The Limits of Science?

This is one of Peter's favorite conversations, and his since gone mega viral on Instagram, even gaining attention from actress Queen Latifah. In Regent's Park, London, Peter Boghossian conducted a Spectrum Street Epistemology with two children, a twelve-year-old boy and his younger sister. Peter began with claims about science, a topic both children preferred. After the young man demonstrated an extraordinary intellect, Peter upped the ante, presenting complicated claims regarding the limits of science and its relationship to morality and emotion. At the end of the discussion, Peter asked the young man if he would rather have a life guided by reason or emotion. He responded, "If you just have cold, hard reason without any emotion and human feeling, what does that make you? You won't be able to make kind decisions; you'll just be essentially a robot." Watch this episode on YouTube.

Feb 15, 202411 min

Spectrum Street Epistemology with Peter Boghossian, Michael Shellenberger, and Michael Shermer

Peter Boghossian joined two of his favorite Michaels for Spectrum Street Epistemology in Santa Barbara, California. Bestselling authors and esteemed public intellectuals Michael Shermer and Michael Shellenberger discussed a number of topics ranging from religion to alien life. Peter began with a claim that elicited points of agreement and disagreement: "Christianity is a better bulwark against 'woke' than humanism." This opens a discussion of nihilism, objective vs. subjective views of reality, and moral realism and pragmatism. They consider the primal (and political) rejection of free speech, history's moral arc, the limits of knowledge, and epistemic humility. Both gentlemen clarify their views on alien life and Mr. Shellenberger, a Christian, identifies the "most important" Biblical passage. Michael Shellenberger is an author, investigative journalist, and the founder & president of Environmental Progress, a nonprofit research organization. He also co-founded the California Peace Coalition, an alliance of parents of children killed by fentanyl and parents of homeless addicts. Michael is the author of "Break Through: From the Death of Environmentalism to the Politics of Possibility" (with Ted Nordhaus), "Apocalypse Never: Why Environmental Alarmism Hurts Us All," and most recently, "San Fransicko: Why Progressives Ruin Cities." Peter and Michael published "Woke Psychopathology: A Taxonomy" in October 2023. Michael Shermer is the world's leading skeptic and Founding Publisher of Skeptic magazine. He hosts the podcast The Michael Shermer Show and is a Presidential Fellow at Chapman University where he teaches Skepticism 101. Dr. Shermer is the author of several books, including the New York Times bestsellers "Why People Believe Weird Things" and "The Believing Brain." His latest book is "Conspiracy: Why the Rational Believe the Irrational." Watch this episode on YouTube.

Feb 14, 202420 min

Spectrum Street Epistemology w/Genspect Founder Stella O'Malley & The Gay of the Year, Menno Kuijper

Peter presents Stella O'Malley and Menno Kuijper with various claims about the current transgender movement. Stella, a psychotherapist and author, and Menno, a video creator who is gay, both share a similar gender-critical viewpoint. Though, they disagree on some points, notably on whether the term "trans people" should even be used. This leads to a discussion on the importance of language, especially regarding trans issues. Finally, they discuss autogynephilia and consent. Stella O'Malley is a psychotherapist, bestselling author, public speaker, and parent with extensive experience in counseling and psychotherapy. Her latest book, "When Kids Say They're Trans," offers a resource for parents who want their children to flourish, but do not believe that hasty medicalization is the best way to ensure long-term health and well-being. Stella is also the founder and Executive Director of Genspect, an international organization that advocates for a healthy approach to sex and gender. Stella on X Stella's other books Menno Kuijper has earned the prestigious award, "Gay of the Year". He is a satirist and video creator whose content focuses on "a world overrun with gender woo" and how it undermines the rights and freedoms of women, girls, LGB people, and children. Menno's YouTube Channel Watch this episode on YouTube.

Feb 13, 202444 min

Illegal Immigration at the U.S. Border: Who's Behind It and Why with Dr. Chris Martenson

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. In addition to analysis and commentary, he writes for PeakProsperity.com, shares his insights on his social media and traditional media, and makes contributions to academic, civic, and private organizations around the world (the UN, the UK House of Commons, and U.S. State Legislatures). This conversation starts with Chris detailing his experience with Bret Weinstein at migrant camps in Darién Province, Panama. One camp was filled with Chinese nationals, mostly military-age men. Chris details the arduous and often gruesome journey migrants take from Ecuador (a visa isn't required) to the US border. Interestingly, Chris reveals that migrants from around the world find out about the US's open border through social media, and they are often aided in their journey by organizations such as the UN, the Red Cross, and various Catholic charities. In the second half of the conversation, Chris and Peter talk about the hypocrisy of Western governments by allowing illegal immigration to flourish and the cognitive dissonance progressives experience when voting for such policies. Finally, Chris and Peter illustrate how this crisis, amongst others, has led to major distrust in governmental institutions. The conversation ends on a hopeful note. Peak Prosperity on YouTube Chris's Books Watch this episode on YouTube.

Feb 13, 202432 min

Helen Joyce and Eric Kaufmann Play Spectrum Street Epistemology: Gender Identity, Womanhood, & More!

Peter Boghossian engages author Dr. Helen Joyce and professor Dr. Eric Kaufmann in Spectrum Street Epistemology. The discussion deals with gender ideology. The claims explore questions such as, "Anyone who conforms to the social construct of woman is a woman" and "If a child says they're trans at school a parent should be notified." The conversation broadened to whether gender ideology could be thought of as transcendental or quasi-religious, and the pair discussed some of the philosophical and religious underpinnings of this movement. At one point, Helen is asked to take the position of a pro-gender-affirming person, and she takes the opportunity to explain the various justifications that individuals use to support that position. Helen and Eric strongly disagree on whether it is possible to be confused about one's gender identity, and they attempt to guess the other's reasoning behind their position. Dr. Helen Joyce is a journalist, Director of Advocacy for Sex Matters, and author of "Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality." Her writing has appeared in The Daily Mail, The Evening Standard, The Times, And Critic Magazine. Helen's previous interview on Peter's channel Helen's website Helen on X Dr. Eric Kaufmann is a Professor of Politics at the University of Buckingham. Originally from Vancouver, BC, Canada, he was born in Hong Kong and spent most of the last few decades in the UK. He is principally interested in cultural politics: ethnicity, national identity, left-wing ideology and religion, and has written extensively on these subjects. Eric's previous interview on Peter's channel Eric's website Eric on X Watch this episode on YouTube.

Feb 13, 202430 min

Your Attention Has Been STOLEN | Peter Boghossian & Johann Hari

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 conversation, Johann and I talk about the variables vying for our attention and their effects on society. Though Johann mentions twelve variables in his book, we focus primarily on social media. Johann and I offer observations of people addicted to technology, and we discuss evidence-based ways to combat this problem. Additionally, we speak about algorithms and their incentives to keep users "angry and scrolling." Finally, we take the conversation to the implications our shortened attention spans have on interpersonal relationships, political participation, and democracy. More from Johann: Books: https://johannhari.com/ Ted Talks: https://www.ted.com/search?q=johann%20hari Watch this episode on YouTube.

Feb 13, 20241h 35m

DEI Pilots, Immigration, & Trans Dating: Spectrum Street Epistemology with Laurence Fox & Francis Foster

Peter engages actor Laurence Fox and TRIGGERnometry host Francis Foster in a game of Spectrum Street Epistemology. The conversation begins with a claim about hiring airline pilots based on race, a topic that has been widely discussed in recent weeks after a door blew off in-flight on an Alaska Airlines plane. Other claims include dating someone who's transgender, immigration issues in the UK, and more! Peter asks Laurence and Francis to argue in favor of an opinion they do not hold. The pair leaned into the character of someone who holds beliefs opposite to their own, resulting in a more dynamic (and often funnier) conversation. Laurence Fox is a renowned actor, the leader of Britain's Reclaim Party, and host of the Laurence Fox Show. Francis Foster is a cultural commentator, well-known comedian, and former teacher of English and drama. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Feb 1, 202435 min

Comedy, Politics, and Contributing Positively to The World with Comedian Bryan Callen

Bryan Callen is a stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and podcaster. He got his start in show business with the original cast of MADtv and he played "Coach Mellor" on ABC's "Schooled." His film and TV credits include "Kingdom," "Ride Along," "Sex and the City," "Californication," and the latest Joker film. His podcasting credits include Steven Crowder's Mug Club, Conspiracy Social Club, and The Joe Rogan Experience. In this episode, Bryan starts by talking about the challenges of discussing political topics as a comedian. He shares some of his views, and we discuss how Americans are failing to talk to each other. We then delve into what one can do about the lack of open and honest conversation. The conversation concludes with a discussion about how to affect change in the world, and the necessary internal steps it takes to get there. More from Brian: YouTube channel: Brian Callen Comedy X/Twitter Watch this episode on YouTube.

Jan 23, 20241h 40m

Illegal IMMIGRATION Will Cause A Political REBELLION in the UK | Peter Boghossian & Matt Goodwin

Matt Goodwin is a professor of politics at School of Politics and International Relations at the University of Kent in Kent, UK. His writing and research primarily focuses on radical right-wing politics and Euroscepticism in the British context. Amongst others, his writing has appeared in publications such as The Daily Mail, The Telegraph, The Guardian, and the Evening Standard. He also serves on the Social Mobility Commission via the British Department of Education. In this conversation, Matt and I discussed the economic and political reality of immigration to the UK. Matt argues that, even though the UK is under a conservative government, the British population has been misled on the issue of immigration. We then discuss the future of Britain and the cultural effects of continued mass immigration. Connect with Matt: Matt on X/Twitter Matt's Substack Watch this episode on YouTube.

Jan 16, 202454 min

"The Case For Colonialism:" What DEI Gets WRONG | Peter Boghossian & Bruce Gilley

Bruce Gilley is a professor of political science at Portland State University. Bruce wrote an article in 2017 for Third World Quarterly titled, "The case for colonialism." This enraged people who called for him to lose his academic position and be stripped of his PhD. The article was retracted due to credible death threats. In 2023, he published a book by the same name. Before his academic career, Bruce worked as a journalist in Hong Kong. This experience strongly influenced his views about colonialism. In 2021, we produced a series on my channel called, "Decolonize Explained" where Bruce debunks the myths around colonization. In this conversation, Bruce and I spoke about the Harvard plagiarism scandal, DEI, and the broader academic landscape. Then, we switched the topic to his book, "The Case For Colonialism." We discussed the reality of colonialism and what history gets wrong, as well as what may have occurred absent colonialism. The conversation concludes with a discussion about what is next for Bruce's career. More from Bruce: Guest essay by Bruce on Peter's Substack Bruce's series on Peter's channel Bruce's research and book, "The Case For Colonialism" Bruce on X Watch this episode on YouTube.

Jan 10, 20241h 29m

Spectrum Street Epistemology with Nina Power and Carl Benjamin

In Fall 2023, philosopher and author Nina Power and cultural critic and polymath Carl Benjamin joined Peter for a Spectrum Street Epistemology exercise in Hampstead Heath, London. They explored controversial claims about a variety of socio-political and cultural topics. Nina and Carl have been on Peter's channel before, but this is their first Spectrum Street Epistemology episode. Peter's interview with Nina Power / Carl Benjamin Nina received a Ph.D. in philosophy from Middlesex University and an MA and BA in philosophy from the University of Warwick. She was a senior lecturer in philosophy at Roehampton University and has taught at various British universities. She is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a member of the British Philosophical Association. She co-hosts the podcast The Lack with Helen Rollins and Benjamin Studebaker. Carl Benjamin, AKA "Sargon of Akkad," is best described as a free-speech activist, staunch critic of identity politics, and champion of English Liberalism. When YouTube and Google shadowbanned his channel in 2019 for wrongthink, Carl continued creating content on Akkad Daily. In November 2020, he launched a new media venture: Lotuseaters.com. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Jan 5, 202456 min

Are Multiculturalism and Diversity Strengths? | Peter Boghossian & Eric Kaufmann

Eric Kaufmann a Professor of Politics at the University of Buckingham. Originally from Vancouver, BC, Canada, he was born in Hong Kong and spent most of the last few decades in the UK. He is principally interested in cultural politics: ethnicity, national identity, left-wing ideology and religion, and has written extensively on these subjects. After two decades, Eric decided to relinquish his full professorship in Politics at Birkbeck College, University of London for the University of Buckingham, stating his case in an article for The Critic called "From monoculture to counterculture: why I am leaving Birkbeck for Buckingham". Peter and Eric discussed multiculturalism and its effects on society, immigration policy, differences between the current state of the US, Canada, and the UK, meritocracy, how to solve the capture of elite institutions, Social Justice, and more. The two even place bets on the future of Critical Social Justice and other cultural issues and will revisit the bet in six months. Follow Eric on X. The European Conservative interview with Eric Watch this episode on YouTube.

Jan 2, 20241h 13m

At High School Debates, Debate Is Not Allowed | Peter Boghossian & James Fishback

For years, James Fishback has been dedicated to formal debate as a competitor and coach. In 2019, James launched "Incubate Debate," a nonprofit organization bringing no-cost, free-speech debate tournaments, workshops, and camps to students across Florida. The organization seeks to overcome economic hardship and increasing censorship in national debate events. In May, James wrote an article, "At High School Debates, Debate Is No Longer Allowed," for The Free Press. He exposed the punishment debaters receive for "what they say and how they say it," and the ideological constraints judges enact in tournaments. In June, James wrote a second article for The Free Press about tournament punishments based on debaters' comments on social media—completely unrelated to their debate performance. In lockstep with the rest of academia, ideas on the debate stage are being censored on the basis of "safety" and ideological conformity. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Dec 22, 202359 min