Conversations with Peter Boghossian

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Iraqi-American Faisal Al Mutar is a human rights activist and the founder of Ideas Beyond Borders, a non-profit organization countering extremism and misinformation through global access to new ideas. He came to the U.S. as a refugee in 2013 and received the President's Volunteer Service Award in 2016 for his commitment to education. This year, Ideas Beyond Borders won Atlas Network's Middle East & North Africa Liberty Award. Peter and Faisal are close friends. In this conversation, they discuss the persistent attack on enlightenment values in the U.S. and how this affects young people. Peter and Faisal are both atheists and they consider how the decline of religious belief has opened doors to alternative manifestations of tribal and authoritarian impulses, including in groups of supposed heterodox thinkers. Faisal also shares his views on the role religion plays in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This podcast was filmed October 30, 2023 at the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship Conference in London, England. More from Faisal: "Are Western Values Worth Defending?" Peter Boghossian & Faisal Al Mutar with Freethinkers of PSU (2017) Follow Faisal on X and Facebook. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Psychiatrist Miriam Grossman has been exposing falsehoods in the sex and gender industry since 2006. Miriam has been a featured expert in many documentaries, including The Daily Wire's "What is a Woman?" and Fox Nation's "The Miseducation of America." She has testified in Congress, lectured at the British House of Lords, and spoken before the United Nations. Her expert psychiatric opinion is frequently sought for witness testimony and court reports. Jordan Peterson wrote the foreword to Miriam's recent publication, "Lost in Trans Nation: A Child Psychiatrist's Guide Out of the Madness." Her book offers practical advice to manage and prevent psychological and medical harm in the transgender assembly line. In 2009, Miriam published "You're Teaching My Child What?," an exposé on ideological sex education curriculum used in public schools. A paperback edition with a new preface will be released on September 26, 2023. Follow Miriam on Twitter Watch this episode on YouTube.

In 2018, Turkish-Swedish political scientist and author Umut Özkırımlı became the target of a state-supported cancelation campaign in Turkey and at Lund University in Sweden. He was finally vindicated after five years of harassment. He lost his young son to cancer during that time. Umut describes himself as a left-wing progressive, a democratic socialist, and a critic of right-wing censorship. But the ordeal he went through gave him a new perspective on left-wing extremism. The result is Umut's new book, "Cancelled: How the Left Can Make Its Way Back from Woke." He explores the similarities between right-wing populism and radical identity politics, suggesting a path for the left to return to liberal values. Umut Özkırımlı is a senior research fellow at Institut Barcelona d'Estudis Internacionals, a professor at Blanquerna, Ramon Llull University, and a senior research associate at Barcelona Centre for International Affairs. He is the author of "Theories of Nationalism," "Contemporary Debates on Nationalism: A Critical Engagement," and the editor of "The Making of a Protest Movement in Turkey," among other books. His articles appear in many publications, including the Guardian, openDemocracy, Times Higher Education, and Huffington Post. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Peter Boghossian engaged Billboard Chris, Francis Aaron, and Digital Gnosis in a conversation at Speakers' Corner, London. Peter presented a number of claims on the topic of gender transition, beginning with the statement on Chris' billboard: "Children cannot consent to puberty blockers." Chris and a self-described "woke" participant find some points of agreement, but the discussion becomes heated on the topic of transwomen in female sports. "Billboard Chris" Elston is an activist for public awareness of child sex "transitions" and children's safety. Watch Peter's recent interview with Billboard Chris here. Billboard Chris is on X and Instagram. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Chris Elston became an activist for the public awareness of child sex "transitions" more than three years ago. He's been harassed, attacked, and even suffered a broken arm for the message on his billboard: "Children cannot consent to puberty blockers." In this conversation with Peter Boghossian, Chris explains how the public reception of his message has changed alongside increasing awareness about the myths promoted by gender ideologues. Peter and Chris compare notes on their techniques for engaging strangers in controversial discussions in the public square. Chris shares various arguments he frequently hears from gender activists and how he addresses them. Peter highlights his use of the "real reason check" in Spectrum Street Epistemology to get to the foundation of a belief. They also discuss the difficulty people have changing their minds in real time, the coercive influence of tribal thinking, and who will be held accountable for medical malpractice on children. Chris briefly mentions the new Dutch documentary about the history of the Dutch Protocol for gender transition. This podcast was filmed October 30, 2023 at the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship Conference in London, England. Billboard Chris on X and Instagram Previous discussions with Billboard Chris: "Moving the Needle on Gender Ideology" (Billboard Chris, Andy Ngo, and others) "Nearly Impossible Conversations" (Billboard Chris & James Klug) Law firm for Detransitioners

This is one of Peter's favorite conversations. Pastor Paul VanderKlay is incredibly thoughtful, sincere, and open. He brings meaningful conversation beyond the walls of his church in California. Paul became a well-known YouTuber for his faith-based commentary on the philosophy of Jordan Peterson. Paul's interest in sharing ideas among people who come from diverse backgrounds and beliefs inspired him to develop a conversation strategy called "Estuary" with his colleague, Pastor John Van Donk. Estuary groups now exist online and at locations around the world. Paul joined Peter Boghossian for a Spectrum Street Epistemology conversation in London. They explore topics related to the curiosities each has about the limits of the other's beliefs. Peter, an atheist, aims to understand Paul's perception of heaven, the value of non-Christian religions, and the importance of spiritual health. Paul is curious about the fissure in the atheist community, how an atheist would respond to a question from God, and if atheism would be necessary in a world without pain. Various claims provide moments of reflection for both gentlemen in this profoundly honest conversation. Pastor Paul VanderKlay serves the Living Stones CRC (Christian Reformed Church) in Sacramento, California. His podcast is available on YouTube and in audio format on various podcast platforms. Follow Paul: Podcast Twitter/X Watch this episode on YouTube.

Longtime friends Peter Boghossian and Dave Rubin met in London for a game of Spectrum Street Epistemology. They each presented claims of personal and global significance, ranging from the best states in the US to potential threats to gay rights. Several pointed claims were discussed regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and associated issues. Dave provides insight into his beliefs about anti-Semitism and the limits of free speech. Dave Rubin is the host of The Rubin Report, which was originally a segment on the progressive Young Turks Network (TYT). He co-founded the community platform Locals in response to censorship on Patreon. As a comedian, Dave interned on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and co-founded several comedy clubs in New York City. He is the bestselling author of "Don't Burn This Book: Thinking for Yourself in an Age of Unreason" and "Don't Burn This Country: Surviving and Thriving in Our Woke Dystopia." Watch this episode on YouTube.

Debbie Hayton is a British physics teacher, trade unionist, and transgender person who rejects the concept of "gender identity." Debbie has written extensively about transgenderism and personal experience with autogynephilia in The Spectator, UnHerd, The Times, Daily Mail, Economist, Quillette and elsewhere. Debbie's belief that trans people can be accommodated "without compromising the rights of other vulnerable groups" has been met with accusations of transphobia. You can read Debbie's evidence submitted to the UK Parliament regarding gender accommodations below. Forum Press will release Debbie's memoir, "Transsexual Apostate: My Journey Back to Reality," in February 2024. Debbie Hayton's evidence submitted to Parliament Follow Debbie Hayton on X Watch this episode on YouTube.

Author and journalist Alexander Beiner cofounded the media platform Rebel Wisdom and serves as one of the executive directors of Breaking Convention, Europe's largest conference on psychedelic medicine and culture. His new book, "The Bigger Picture: How Psychedelics Can Help Us Make Sense of the World," is an exploration of the transformative possibility of psychedelics beyond Big Pharma's aim of profitable mental health care. He also produced "The Rise of Psychedelic Capitalism," a short documentary about the ramifications of hallucinogens hitting the mainstream marketplace. Alexander facilitates courses, retreats, and events to foster inner development and human connectedness. His writing is published on Medium, UnHerd, Psyche Magazine, and Substack. Follow Alexander on X. Watch this episode on YouTube.

British author and journalist Louise Perry rejects the notion that social change over time indicates "progress." Instead, she says history is a series of trade-offs that does not guarantee improvements for humanity. In her book, "The Case Against the Sexual Revolution," Louise proposes that increased sexual freedom has caused harm due to the lack of sexual restraint. Louise writes for the New Statesmen, The Daily Mail, and UnHerd. She is the press officer for "We Can't Consent to This," an organization addressing increasing incidents of women killed by sexual violence described as consensual. Louise hosts "Maiden Mother Matriarch," a podcast about sexual politics. She studied anthropology and women's studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies and the University of Oxford. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Triggernometry co-hosts Konstantin Kisin and Francis Foster joined Peter Boghossian for Spectrum Street Epistemology (SSE) in London. The discussion was held in front of Middlesex Guildhall, the building housing the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. Passers-by were welcome to join the discussion, and one did: Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, the co-director of March for Life UK. She participated in the analysis of claims regarding abortion rights. Konstantin Kisin is a Russian-British author, satirist, and cultural critic. He is the author of "An Immigrant's Love Letter to the West," a bestselling book about free speech and cancel culture through the perspective of an Eastern bloc immigrant. Francis Foster is a cultural commentator, well-known comedian, and former teacher of English and drama. Before launching Triggernometry, he co-hosted the "Probably Offensive" podcast. Konstantin and Francis co-host Triggernometry, a podcast dedicated to free speech and open discussion of controversial topics. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Triggernometry co-hosts Konstantin Kisin and Francis Foster joined Peter Boghossian for Spectrum Street Epistemology (SSE) in London. The discussion was held in front of Middlesex Guildhall, the building housing the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. Peter offered more than a dozen claims to Konstantin and Francis, initially focused on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Topics include Hamas, "proportionate" military response, Israel's right to exist, anti-Semitism, the incitement of violence, and the limits of free speech. This is part one of the conversation. Konstantin Kisin is a Russian-British author, satirist, and cultural critic. He is the author of "An Immigrant's Love Letter to the West," a bestselling book about free speech and cancel culture through the perspective of an Eastern bloc immigrant. Francis Foster is a cultural commentator, well-known comedian, and former teacher of English and drama. Before launching Triggernometry, he co-hosted the "Probably Offensive" podcast. Konstantin and Francis co-host Triggernometry, a podcast dedicated to free speech and open discussion of controversial topics. Watch this episode on YouTube.

British women's activist Kellie-Jay Keen (aka Posie Parker) is the founder of Standing for Women and leader of international #LetWomenSpeak events. Kellie-Jay popularized "adult human female" as the proper definition for women beginning in 2018 with billboards in the UK. She designated 2023 as the Year of the TERF and hosts weekly TERF Talk Tuesdays. Kellie-Jay is a leading voice in the discussion of women's rights and protection of women's spaces. As such, her online content has been censored and she is frequently targeted by trans extremists. Peter Boghossian had his first conversation with Kellie-Jay following the extremist violence in Auckland, New Zealand that caused her to flee the country. More from Kellie-Jay: Standing for Women/Let Women Speak TERF Talk Tuesdays Violence in Auckland Peter's first conversation with Kellie-Jay Kelly-Jay on X (formerly known as Twitter) (Also @StandingForXX) Watch this episode on YouTube.

According to author, MMA coach, and one of the first people in the United States to receive a black belt in jiu-jitsu, Matt Thornton, violence is as natural to human evolution as sex and food. In his book, "The Gift of Violence: Surviving and Thriving in a Dangerous World," Matt provides the tools and mindset necessary to avoid—and if necessary, engage in—violent encounters. Matt has been Peter Boghossian's Brazilian jiu-jitsu coach for over a decade, and they are also close friends. In this intimate conversation, they discuss the practical value of jiu-jitsu and MMA training. Matt outlines specific moves to gain control in a fight and the importance of situational awareness and weapon training. According to Matt, many people have a glamorized view of violence and do not understand the limits of their own capabilities. Worse still, ideology has blunted people's connection to defensive evolutionary instincts, resulting in dangerous encounters that could be avoided. Matt Thornton has taught functional martial arts for more than 30 years. He holds a 5th-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and is the founder of Straight Blast Gym International, training champion MMA fighters and world-class law enforcement instructors. Matt addresses policing, gang violence, and crime data in his series "Wokeness, Public Safety, BLM, & Antifa." Watch this episode on YouTube.

In the spring of 2021, award-winning dancer and choreographer Rosie Kay performed a solo show to wide acclaim. The show included three pieces addressing women's experiences in life and dance, with the final piece, "Adult Female Dancer," serving as Rosie's memoir. Just a few months later, she resigned from her own dance company following accusations of transphobia. In the fall of 2021, Rosie invited dancers from her production of "Romeo + Juliet" to her home for a dinner party. A late-night conversation about an upcoming production of Virginia Woolf's "Orlando" revealed Rosie's support for women-only spaces and her acknowledgment that biological sex is real. A handful of her dancers reported this "transphobia" to the Rosie Kay Dance Company board of directors, initiating investigations. The board wanted Rosie to be "re-educated." Rosie resigned from the company she ran for nearly 20 years and launched a new company, K2CO. She only employs dancers who are committed to freedom of speech and artistic expression. Rosie Kay graduated from the London Contemporary Dance School in 1998. She performed internationally and founded The Rosie Kay Dance Company in 2004. She was the Leverhulme Artist in Residence at the University of Oxford, the choreographer for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and received Special Commendation from the Royal Society of Public Health. Awards from Stuttgart's International Solo Dance Festival, The Queen, and Bonnie Bird are among her many accolades. Her work has been featured on stage and in film. Rosie Kay on Unherd: "My body will never be erased" Watch this episode on YouTube.

Rikki Schlott is a journalist and political commentator focused on free speech, civil liberties, and youth issues from a Gen Z perspective. Her new book with best-selling author Greg Lukianoff, "The Canceling of the American Mind," is hot off the press! She and Greg co-authored this follow-up to "The Coddling of the American Mind" by Greg and NYU professor Jonathan Haidt. Rikki is a columnist at the New York Post and a regular contributor to numerous publications and television programs. She was a research fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights & Expression (FIRE) and a production intern for The Megyn Kelly Show. More from Rikki: Rikki's new book, out now: "The Canceling of the American Mind: Cancel Culture Undermines Trust, Destroys Institutions, and Threatens Us All—But There Is a Solution" Twitter/X Watch this episode on YouTube.

In this conversation, Peter and Rajiv Malhotra discuss anti-Semitism at Harvard and other Ivy League universities, Harvard's cancellation of Hindu speakers, collaboration between leftist and Islamic radicals to undermine various civilizations they label "oppressive," how China uses Harvard to undermine the U.S. and India, and much more. Bestselling author Rajiv Malhotra is a physicist, computer scientist, and founder of Infinity Foundation, a Princeton-based non-profit specializing in civilization studies. His books include "The Power of Future Machines: Essays on Artificial Intelligence," "Snakes in the Ganga" (with a foreword by Peter Boghossian), and "Being Different: An Indian Challenge to Western Universalism." Watch this episode on YouTube.

Philosopher and writer Nina Power is senior editor and columnist at Compact Magazine. She is the author of "One Dimensional Woman" (2009) and "What do Men Want? Masculinity & Its Discontents" (2022). She left her position as Senior Lecturer of Philosophy at Roehampton University after more than a decade in academia. Peter Boghossian spoke with Nina about the current manifestation of the "battle of the sexes," where men have become a socially permitted target of hatred and blame. Nina discusses the curious ideal of a homogenous human being, an aim to un-gender the sexes to make men and women interchangeable. She says it is a mistake that traditional masculine virtues—strength, judgment, responsibility—are being coded as right-wing values that must be dismantled alongside "the patriarchy." Peter and Nina also discuss sex differences, male suicide, Nina's break with the Labour Party, the state of philosophy, Aristotle's categories of friendship, intellectual conformity, Ivan Illich, Rebecca Tuvel, activist attacks, leftism, the beauty of changing one's mind, and more. 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 cohosts the podcast The Lack with Helen Rollins and Benjamin Studebaker. More from Nina: "What do Men Want? Masculinity & Its Discontents" by Nina Power Compact Magazine "The Lack" podcast Nina on X Nina on Substack Watch this episode on YouTube.

Sall Grover is the Founder and CEO of "Giggle," a social networking app "designed by women, for women." She is currently battling a lawsuit from a trans-woman who calls himself "Tickle." Tickle was kicked off the app in 2021 because he is a man. The outcome of this lawsuit (Tickle vs. Giggle) will impact women's rights and protected spaces in Australia. Peter Boghossian spoke with Sall about the fundamental distinction between the sexes, why preferred pronouns must be rejected, free speech and cognitive liberty, the meaning of progress, and the future of the transgender fad. According to Sall, "women are not dickless men" and have the right to exclude men from their sports, prisons, and social apps. Further info on the Tickle vs. Giggle case: fedcourt.gov.au Quillette article Watch this episode on YouTube.

In 2021, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) canceled a high-profile lecture by Dr. Dorian Abbot, a renowned geophysicist from the University of Chicago. The topic of the lecture was not the issue. Rather, Dorian was targeted by Social Justice activists because of his critique of DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) ideology. MIT buckled to the demands of a handful of ideologues, inadvertently contributing to discussions about academic censorship. MIT did not expect the blowback it received for hobbling scientific inquiry in favor of ideological conformity. MIT alumni formed the Free Speech Alliance and its faculty overwhelmingly voted to adopt a university statement regarding freedom of expression. Since then, Dorian has become a leading figure in the fight for academic freedom of thought, speech, and inquiry. In this conversation, Peter Boghossian and Dorian discuss the MIT fiasco, the proper aim of academia, the immorality of DEI, speech as "violence," University of Chicago's commitment to academic freedom, finding meaning through religion and naturalism, Dorian's rejection of tyrannical "equality" mandates, and much more. Dorian Abbot is associate professor in the Department of the Geophysical Sciences at the University of Chicago. He has written more than 90 scientific papers on the climates of Earth and other planets. He is a member of the Council of the Faculty Senate, a co-founder of the faculty group U-Chicago Free, a founding member of the Academic Freedom Alliance, and a co-founder and moderator of the Heterodox Academy STEM Community. Dorian won the 2021 "Hero of Intellectual Freedom Award" from the American Council of Trustees and Alumni and the 2022 "Courage Award" from the Heterodox Academy. Read the MIT Freedom of Expression & Academic Freedom statement. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Author and cultural critic Wilfred Reilly is a gadfly to mainstream narratives concerning race, crime, and gender ideology. His books include "Taboo: 10 Facts You Can't Talk About" and "Hate Crime Hoax: How the Left is Selling a Fake Race War." His upcoming book, "Lies My Liberal Teacher Told Me," will be available in February 2024. Wilfred's writing is also published in the Wall Street Journal, the National Review, USA Today, Commentary Magazine, Tablet, Quillette, and many other outlets. Wilfred is an Assistant Professor of Political Sciences at Kentucky State University. His research interests include international relations and prevention of war, contemporary American race relations, and empirical testing of political claims. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Southern Illinois University and a law degree from the University of Illinois. More from Wilfred: Upcoming book: "Lies My Liberal Teacher Told Me" Books: "Taboo: 10 Facts You Can't Talk About" and "Hate Crime Hoax: How the Left is Selling a Fake Race War" Wilfred on Twitter Watch the episode on YouTube.

Author and activist David Silverman is one of the best-known atheists in the United States. He has been a leading voice in the atheism movement for decades, previously serving as President for American Atheists and Executive Director for Atheist Alliance International. He broke ranks with these organizations when they were captured by the "religion of wokeism." David is now the advisory board chair for Atheists for Liberty, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization promoting secularism, free speech, and enlightenment values. He is the author of "Fighting God: An Atheist Manifesto for a Religious World." He recently published an article in Reality's Last Stand expressing his concerns about atheists aligning with Christians in the fight against woke ideology. More from David: Reality's Last Stand: "Reflections of a Firebrand" by David Silverman YouTube Atheists for Liberty Twitter Watch this episode on YouTube.

Filmmaker Taylor Reece is the director of "Dead Name," a documentary by Broken Hearted Films. "Dead Name" gives voice to parents managing the damage and trauma gender-affirming care has inflicted upon their children. The film was released in December 2022, but Vimeo removed the video from its platform in February this year. Vimeo accused the film of promoting "hate speech" and demeaning "Sexual Orientation Change Efforts (SOCE)." Interest in the film by the press and viewers surged following this censorship. Watch "Dead Name": https://www.deadnamedocumentary.com/ Watch this episode on YouTube.

Evolutionary biologist Colin Wright is the founding editor of Reality's Last Stand, a publication dedicated to free speech, science, and reality. His articles on sex and gender have been published in The Wall Street Journal, The Times, New York Post, Newsweek, City Journal, Quillette, and other major news outlets and peer-reviewed journals. Colin is a Manhattan Institute Fellow, an Academic Advisor at the Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine (SEGM), and a member of Genspect's Killarney Group. Colin received a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology from UC Santa Barbara in 2018. He left academia in 2020 when the fervor of gender ideology became an obstacle to scientific inquiry and free speech. Connect with Colin: Reality's Last Stand Twitter Further resources: Manhattan Institute Killarney Group (Genspect) Watch this episode on YouTube.

Special thanks to Birch Gold Group for sponsoring today's episode. Text "PETER" to 989898 for your FREE info kit on gold. Writer Rob Henderson coined the term "luxury beliefs," an apt description of empty slogans that signal high status among the elite. Proclaiming "Defund the police!" may confer status on students at Columbia, but do they understand the cost such a policy would inflict on the poor? (Spoiler Alert: No.) Rob attended Yale, earned his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Cambridge, and served in the Air Force. His research interests include social cognition, prosocial behavior, and moral development and reasoning. He is a writer for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, Quillette, and Substack and a Founding Faculty Fellow at the University of Austin, Texas. Rob's memoir will be released in February 2024, titled "Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class." It is available for preorder. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Erec Smith is an Associate Professor of Rhetoric at York College of Pennsylvania. Although he has eclectic scholarly interests, Smith's primary work focuses on the rhetorics of anti-racist activism, theory, and pedagogy. He is the president of the Foundation for Free Black Thought. Smith's recent books include A Critique of Anti-Racism in Rhetoric and Composition: The Semblance of Empowerment (2020) and The Lure of Disempowerment: Reclaiming Agency in the Age of CRT (2022). He tweets here. Documentaries mentioned: "The Woke Reformation" by Travis Brown "The Reformers" by Mike Nayna Watch this episode on YouTube.

Dr. Tabia Lee is a longtime educator, pedagogist, and a founding member of Free Black Thought. In 2021, Tabia was hired at DeAnza College in California as the Faculty Director for the Office of Equity, Social Justice, and Multicultural Education. Tabia attempted to reform the toxic campus atmosphere characterized by many faculty and staff members as "too woke." DEI colleagues at DeAnza rejected Tabia's efforts to promote a "pro-human" approach to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Tabia, a black woman, was called a white supremacist, a racist, and a right-wing operative, among other accusations. In June this year, Tabia was fired. She is suing DeAnza College for violating her academic freedom and free speech rights. Find more from Tabia: Donate Free Black Thought

Bestselling author and evolutionary psychologist Gad Saad is a pioneer in the application of evolutionary psychology to consumer behavior. He is a Professor of Marketing at Concordia University where he held the Research Chair in Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences and Darwinian Consumption for a decade. As a leading public intellectual, Gad writes and speaks about a wide range of ideas, including "idea pathogens" destroying logic, science, reason, and common sense. He hosts "The Saad Truth" podcast. Gad is the author of the international bestseller, "The Parasitic Mind: How Infectious Ideas Are Killing Common Sense," "The Evolutionary Bases of Consumption," "The Consuming Instinct, Evolutionary Psychology in the Business Sciences," and numerous scientific papers. His latest book is "The Saad Truth about Happiness: 8 Secrets for Leading the Good Life," published July 2023. Follow Gad Saad: The Saad Truth podcast Website Twitter

Special thanks to Birch Gold Group for sponsoring today's episode. Text "PETER" to 989898 for your FREE info kit on gold. Glenn Loury, one of the leading public intellectuals in the Anglosphere, is known for his astute observations and forthright delivery. He does not disappoint in this conversation with Peter Boghossian during the University of Austin's Forbidden Courses program. Glenn and Peter discuss pressing social, racial, and economic topics of our era, including affirmative action, student debt relief, and criminal justice reform. Glenn explains his distrust of public policy to remedy social ills that should be managed through individual responsibility. He discusses disempowering narratives promoted by progressives and shudders at the "infantile, unserious arguments" of Ibram X. Kendi. Glenn also talks about how he derives meaning in life and his religious ambivalence. He shares his deep love for his wife in spite of political differences between them. When Peter asks Glenn about his hopes for his grandchildren, Glenn shares words of wisdom that reveal his deepest values. He also describes his favorite recent books: "A Certain Ambiguity" by Guarav Suri and "Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth" by Reza Aslan. Author, economist, and social critic Glenn Loury is the Merton P. Stoltz Professor of the Social Sciences and Professor of Economics at Brown University. He is the recipient of many honors, including a Guggenheim Fellowship and a Carnegie Scholarship. He hosts The Glenn Show, frequently joined by another friend of the show, linguist John McWhorter. Glenn's publications include, "The Anatomy of Racial Inequality," "Race, Incarceration, and American Values," "One by One from the Inside Out," and "Ethnicity, Social Mobility and Public Policy." His memoir, "Late Admissions: Confessions of a Black Conservative," is forthcoming. Glenn's Substack: https://glennloury.substack.com/ Watch this episode on YouTube.

Special thanks to Birch Gold Group for sponsoring today's episode. Text "PETER" to 989898 for your FREE info kit on gold. Luana S. Maroja is a renowned evolutionary biologist, Professor of Biology, and Chair of the Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Program at Williams College. She was taken aback when the Society for the Study of Evolution released a statement promoting sex as a spectrum and declaring the validity of "lived experience" in sexual identity. What would inspire such a misguided, conspicuously anti-scientific declaration? In this conversation with Peter, she answers that question. In plain language, Luana explains chromosomal differences in mammals and how the sex binary is expressed in animals. She addresses popular arguments about exceptions to the binary, such as variations in sex chromosomes, hormone receptor failure, and developmental sex disorders. They also discuss: Moralistic and naturalist fallacies, bimodality, being "born in the wrong body," social constructs, clown fish, non-biologists teaching bad biology, and trans racialism. Luana S. Maroja earned her undergraduate and master's degree from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and her PhD from Cornell University. Her research interests include population ecology, speciation, population genetics, phylogeny, and phylogeography. Luana studies a variety of organisms, including small mammals, insects, and plants, and has published more than 35 scientific papers. Luana co-authored The Ideological Subversion of Biology, the cover article in the July/August 2023 issue of Skeptical Inquirer magazine. "The Ideological Subversion of Biology," Skeptical Inquirer https://skepticalinquirer.org/2023/06/the-ideological-subversion-of-biology/ Watch the episode on YouTube.

Bestselling author John McWhorter is a linguistics professor at Columbia University, host of "Lexicon Valley," and a regular guest on "The Glenn Show" with Glenn Loury. John's writing has been published in many venues, including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The New Republic, City Journal, Time Magazine, and Forbes. He writes a weekly opinion column for The New York Times. John's most recent book is "Woke Racism: How a New Religion Has Betrayed Black America." He has authored more than twenty books on language and race relations, including "Nine Nasty Words," "The Language Hoax," and "Talking Back, Talking Black." Woke Racism by John McWhorter Lexicon Valley Substack New York Times articles Watch this episode on YouTube.

Author Michael Lind is co-founder of the New America Foundation and co-author of its manifesto, "The Radical Center." He is a columnist for Tablet and has been an editor or staff writer for The New Yorker, Harper's, The New Republic, and The National Interest. He is a contributor to The New York Times, Politico, The Financial Times, Foreign Policy, Salon, The International Economy, Forbes, UnHerd, and many other publications. Michael has authored nearly 20 books, including "The New Class War: Saving Democracy from the Managerial Elite," "The American Way of Strategy," and "What Lincoln Believed." Michael's latest book is "Hell to Pay: How the Suppression of Wages is Destroying America," published in May 2023. Michael is a professor at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, Austin, teaching courses on American democracy, political economy, and foreign policy. More about Michael: "Hell to Pay: How the Suppression of Wages is Destroying America" by Michael Lind Tablet MagazineNew America Foundation Watch the episode on YouTube.

Scottish author and critic Will Jordan, aka The Critical Drinker, offers biting, insightful, and often hilarious critiques of modern cinematography. His straightforward analysis of plots, characterization, dialogue, and ideological narrative in modern film has earned him over 1.7 million YouTube subscribers. The Critical Drinker is the author of the "Ryan Drake" novel series and co-authored "Deadly Cargo" with James Patterson. He is also Peter's favorite movie and TV critic. Books by Will Jordan Follow Will on Twitter Watch this episode on YouTube.

Special thanks to Birch Gold Group for sponsoring today's episode. Text "PETER" to 989898 for your FREE info kit on gold. Journalist Andy Ngo has been in the news regarding the conclusion of his civil lawsuit against Rose City Antifa. Members of the Portland "anti-fascist" group assaulted Andy multiple times since 2019, putting him in the hospital with a brain hemorrhage. Despite a plethora of video evidence, the jury cleared the assailants of responsibility on August 8. Andy and one of his lawyers discussed juror intimidation by the defense lawyer and other Antifa members with Laura Ingraham. Peter Boghossian and Andy had this conversation prior to the conclusion of the trial. They have been friends for years, first meeting at Portland State University in 2015 when Peter was a professor and Andy was a graduate student. Peter and Andy share their first-hand experience with the damage Social Justice ideology has inflicted on Portland, Oregon. They discuss the decline in crime prevention by police and citizens, including the national effect of former US Marine Daniel Penny's indictment. Andy explains why left-wing violence is tolerated and even encouraged. Many academics have ties to violent extremists (or are violent extremists themselves) and activist journalists provide narratives that justify vitriol toward their ideological enemies. Andy explains how left-wing radicalization begins as early as elementary school. Andy and Peter were previously involved in secular activism. They consider the consequences of bartering fealty to traditional religions in exchange for Wokism. Peter describes his Pollyanna expectation for a new age of rational flourishing and his surprise at the secular pseudo-religious outcome. Also discussed: moral triaging, identity vs. class, epistemological paralysis, Billboard Chris, trans militancy, preferred pronouns, and the ineffectiveness of anonymity. 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. Website: https://www.andy-ngo.com/ Locals: https://ngolocals.com/ Detailed report: Civil Trial against Rose City Antifa https://townhall.com/tipsheet/miacathell/2023/08/09/andy-ngo-antifa-trial-hacker-testimony-n2626762 Post-Trial Interview with Laura Ingraham https://www.patreon.com/posts/87462476?pr=true Watch this episode on YouTube.

Award-winning author Jonathan Rauch is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and contributing editor of The Atlantic. Jonathan defends objective truth and free inquiry in his latest book, "The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth." He is the author of eight books on public policy, culture, and government, including "Kindly Inquisitors: The New Attacks on Free Thought" and "Beyond Queer: Challenging Gay Left Orthodoxy." Jonathan's Website: https://www.jonathanrauch.com/ Braver Angels: https://braverangels.org/what-we-do/debates/ Articles referenced by Jon: https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/15/media/twitter-musk-journalists-hnk-intl/index.html https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/04/elon-musk-twitter-still-banning-journalists https://www.persuasion.community/p/the-medias-covid-success https://twitter.com/jon_rauch/status/1509752156605276160 Watch this episode on YouTube.

Special thanks to Birch Gold Group for sponsoring today's episode. Text "PETER" to 989898 for your FREE info kit on gold. Kathleen Stock is a British philosopher, author, and gender critical feminist who recently left mainstream academia. She resigned her professorship at Sussex University at the end of 2021 due to ideological censorship and death threats from trans activists. Like Peter Boghossian, Kathleen is a Founding Faculty Fellow at the University of Austin, Texas (UATX). Peter and Kathleen were both participating faculty in UATX's Forbidden Courses program this summer and met for a conversation. Kathleen talks about the strange new world LGBTQ+ activists have created for gay men and lesbians, particularly defining gay identity as "same gender attracted." Kathleen, herself a lesbian, is concerned about the confusing messages young lesbians receive from gender ideologues—like the notion that "lesbians can have penises." Peter and Kathleen also discuss preferred pronouns, cultish qualities in trans activism, the new Virgin Mary (any pregnant trans man), the callow misuse of philosophy, the effect of morally fashionable beliefs on philosophers, ruined academic disciplines, Wittgenstein, women's competitive nature, the Substitution Hypothesis, the ethics of gender transition, backward reasoning, and hope for the next generation. Kathleen Stock's latest book is "Material Girls: Why Reality Matters for Feminism." She is a columnist for UnHerd and recently launched The Lesbian Project with Julie Bindel. Follow Kathleen's work: The Lesbian Project Unheard Twitter Watch this episode on YouTube.

Filmmaker and writer Christopher Rufo is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. Chris has produced documentaries for PBS, Netflix, and international television. He's also a contributing editor at "City Journal," where his articles address critical race theory, gender ideology, homelessness, addiction, crime, and the decline of American cities. Chris just published his first book, "America's Cultural Revolution: How the Radical Left Conquered Everything," an instant New York Times bestseller. Find more of Chris's work: City Journal articles Substack The Manhattan Institute Twitter

Cosmologist Dr. Brian Keating a Distinguished Professor of Physics at the University of California, San Diego and the Associate Director of the Arthur C. Clarke Center for Human Imagination. He is the author of "Losing the Nobel Prize: A Story of Cosmology, Ambition, and the Perils of Science's Highest Honor" and "Into the Impossible: Thinking Like a Nobel Prize Winner." Keating hosts the "Into the Impossible" podcast. "Losing the Nobel Prize: A Story of Cosmology, Ambition, and the Perils of Science's Highest Honor" by Brian Keating "Into the Impossible: Think Like a Nobel Prize Winner" by Brian Keating YouTube Podcast "Into the Impossible" Center for Human Imagination Website Twitter Watch this episode on YouTube.

Peter Boghossian has been inspired by the work of preeminent evolutionary biologist, author, and atheist Richard Dawkins for years. In this conversation, they discuss various impingements of delusional thinking on rationality. Richard is unsettled by the substitution hypothesis—the proposal that as one religion fades, another will take its place. Yet, he recognizes the transfer of religious structures into Woke dogma, including the replacements of white privilege for Biblical original sin and trans ideology for Catholic transubstantiation. Richard says he's wasted his life if humans are destined to embrace a default level of delusional thinking from one source or another. Peter and Richard consider whether some delusions are more benign than others and if the lesser of the evils should be accepted. Richard proposes that scientific thinking and evidence-based belief could replace irrationality, saying the wonders of science provide a "nearly spiritual experience." Also discussed: Fermi's paradox, natural selection, extraterrestrial genetics, skeletal gender, Lamarck vs Darwin, the ideological capture of science journals, tribal belief, and two mysteries unanswered by science. Richard Dawkins is a bestselling author and award-winning evolutionary biologist. He is an advocate for scientific literacy and an outspoken critic of creationism. His most notable books are The God Delusion and The Selfish Gene, both selling millions of copies internationally. Richard's latest book is Flights of Fancy: Defying Gravity by Design and Evolution. Richard hosts The Poetry of Reality podcast and is on the board of the Center for Inquiry. Website: https://richarddawkins.com/links Watch this episode on YouTube.