The Dissidents

This week Ryan Tsapatsaris is back and joins Elizabeth for discussion about bullying behaviors.  A recent study of Middle and High School aged participants revealed that bullied students admitted to also engaging in bullying behaviors.  The relationship was stronger for gender non-conforming students than for cisgender students.  Transgender identities were also more strongly associated with perpetration of bullying than subjection to bullying.  Ryan and Elizabeth describe the study and findings.  We also discuss some interesting aspects of the data set, which becomes a jumping off point for a summary of recent trends in gender identification: As of 2023, Generation Z survey respondents have been much less likely to identify as either trans or queer.  We also talk about the risks involved in doing this kind of research and secondary analysis of data.  Social scientists should be able to pose difficult and unpopular questions, and extend research and theory to contemporary social issues, without constant worries about interpersonal and professional cancellation campaigns.Podcast notesTopic article:Heino, E., Ellonen, N., & Kaltiala, R. (2021). Transgender identity is associated with bullying involvement among Finnish adolescents. Frontiers in psychology, 11, 612424.  https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.612424/fullMentioned articles:Sex and the census: why surveys should not conflate sex and gender identityhttps://www.queermajority.com/essays-all/academia-in-an-age-of-assholeshttps://unherd.com/newsroom/why-are-fewer-young-people-identifying-as-trans/ (Kaufmann)https://www.heterodoxcentre.com/research/chss-report-no-5/ Trans identification really is in free fall: New data (Twenge) 

This week the Dissident's Podcast highlights our partner, Prosocial Workers, ProSocial Podcast. ProSocial Workers executive director and ILV senior advisor Matt Watson invites licensed clinical social worker Paul Stayback to discuss the intersection of social work, gun violence, and mental health. They explore the challenges of engaging with firearms owners in therapy, the importance of viewpoint diversity in social work, and the need for nuanced conversations about gun control and safety. Paul shares his journey into social work, his experiences with veterans, and the cultural barriers that prevent effective dialogue around firearms. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding and humanizing different perspectives to foster productive discussions and ultimately enhance community safety.

This week Mike Burke is back and joins Elizabeth for discussion about the neuroscience of polarized attitudes.  A recent article suggests that regardless of which side of the political aisle we inhabit, those with more extreme views may experience similar neural activity and physiological responses to the same political content and emotionally charged language. Research participants who self-identified on the most extreme ends of the ideological spectrum exhibited the most so-called  "neural synchrony effects."  Mike and Elizabeth talk about the implications of these similarities as well as other examples of what is often called the horseshoe theory, which suggests that those at the far ends of the political spectrum may view the world through a shared lens and that their behaviors and strategies are nearly indistinguishable. Mike describes his relevant article in which he argues that too often "those who claim to be the defenders of Western civilisation seem not to notice that they are the ones burning it down from within." Podcast notesTopic article: de Bruin, D., & FeldmanHall, O. (2025). Politically extreme individuals exhibit similar neural processing despite ideological differences. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.A brief description of horseshoe theory appears here: https://vanderbiltpoliticalreview.com/12168/us/horseshoe-theory-in-american-politics/Mike's recent article can be found here: https://www.queermajority.com/essays-all/the-kremlins-lgbt-smokescreen

This week Elizabeth is joined by librarian and frequent contributor, Pamela Hayes-Bohanan who, in anticipation of Banned Books Week, gives us the latest news on attempts to remove books from our libraries. The majority of book censorship attempts now originate from organized movements, pressure groups, and government entities, including elected officials. While concerns about content or appropriate category for shelving used to come from individuals, book bans are now most commonly initiated by activists who may never have seen the book or patronized the library they've targeted.  The titles most frequently targeted for censorship appear on partisan lists. Websites provide a forum for sharing author names, book titles, and tools to demand censorship of more titles in more libraries.  Pam helps us understand what that means for our public, private, K-12 and college libraries.  We also discuss what it means for education and society more broadly.  Pam encourages us to celebrate the right to read.Podcast notesThe American Library Association sponsors Banned Books Week annually to promote awareness, remind us that censorship has no place in contemporary society, and most of all to celebrate the right to read. More information about Banned Books Week can be found here:  https://www.ala.org/bbooks/banned Since our podcast this happened: Texas School Administrators Use A.I. To Ban Books.  Read about it here: https://bookriot.com/leander-sb-13/A couple of reports from PEN America can be found here:Cover to Cover: An analysis of titles banned in the 23-24 school yearhttps://pen.org/report/cover-to-cover/The Blueprint State: Lessons from Parents Left Behind by Parental Rights Policies in Floridahttps://pen.org/report/the-blueprint-state/

This week Elizabeth is joined by Mark Horowitz. We discuss two very different articles about viewpoint diversity. In one (unpublished) paper the authors examined thousands of college course syllabi for evidence that diverse perspectives were being introduced. In all 3 areas of focus (racism in the criminal justice system, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and the ethics of abortion), faculty overwhelmingly assigned works representing a single perspective. There was very little evidence that students were formally introduced to books or articles identified as well known with respected alternative views. Based on our personal experiences in academia, we were more surprised about the magnitude of the effects than the general findings. While we could find little to criticize about the first article, we were less enamored with the second, which argues against viewpoint diversity. The author's focus is more political than scientific, and her examples are primarily extreme, unrelated to traditional academic goals, and may reveal more about her bias against Heterodox Academy than the futility of viewpoint diversity. She rightly argues that hiring individuals solely because they have unusual views would likely do little to advance science, but we find little else to admire about her narrow arguments and examples.  Mark shares his own research findings regarding groupthink in academia, the benefits of viewpoint diversity, and briefly describes the rewards and challenges of incorporating controversial topics and perspectives in the classroom.  Podcast notesThe (unpublished) Shields, et al. syllabus working paper can be found here: https://roseinstitute.cmc.edu/academic/faculty/profile/jon-shields The authors were interviewed by the Chronicle of Higher Education here: https://www.chronicle.com/article/these-scholarly-topics-are-hotly-debated-so-why-dont-syllabi-reflect-that and the paper was referenced in this New York Times editorial here:  https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/15/opinion/conservative-professors-viewpoint-diversity.htmlThe Siraganian op-ed for the American Association of University Professors Academe Magazine, which argues against viewpoint diversity, can be found here: Seven Theses Against Viewpoint Diversity | AAUPOther episodes with contributor Mark Horowitz: Top of the Class: Teachers with Lenient Grading get Higher Ratings: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s5-e6-top-of-the-class-attractive-teachers/id1537516628?i=1000699222059Contrarians at the Gate: Publishing Controversial Topics in an Era of Academic Progressivism: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s4-e26-contrarians-at-the-gate-publishing/id1537516628?i=1000668944697Making Up the Grade: A Call for Educators to Openly Address Eroding Standards: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s4-e19-making-up-the-grade-a-call-for-educators/id1537516628?i=1000661206148

This week Jennifer Richmond and Brandy Shufutinsky speak with Sarah Mchlaughlin on her recently released book – Authoritarians in the Academy. As universities are run more and more like corporations with increasing numbers of administrators, priorities have shifted. As part of this shift, we often see universities making financial decisions that can be at odds with their values, namely freedom of speech. This includes not only US university campuses that operate overseas in places like China and Qatar, but also on our home turf. In order to appease financial partnerships Sarah has found that American universities have become increasingly censorious. In some cases, this censorship is to protect overseas students who face harsh recrimination for speaking out on American campuses in their home country, but in many more cases the calculation is monetary. So, what can we do to roll back these trends? Sarah shares several suggestions, including whistleblower protections, transparent speech codes, and programs that educate vulnerable students on how to exercise their freedom anonymously, when necessary.Podcast Notes:Authoritarians in the Academy: https://www.thefire.org/research-learn/authoritarians-academy

In 2022 Counterweight, the organization that Helen Pluckrose founded and that was absorbed into the Institute for Liberal Values had a virtual conference on Alternatives to Diversity and Inclusion. Starting in 2025, we will be rolling out one talk a month that was presented at the conference. We sit down with the original presenters throughout 2025 to see what has changed since 2022. With Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives seemingly on the chopping block, we are curious to hear what our original participants are witnessing and experiencing on the ground. Is DEI really dead or just in remission? Are there healthy alternatives to DEI that we should consider, or do we throw the baby out with the bathwater and wipe our hands clean? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments.This month Jennifer Richmond interviews Lyell Asher.  In the update to his original talk on Liberal Approaches to Diversity and Inclusion, where he gave us suggestions on how ways to “hack” DEI, we explore what has changed since 2022. His methods of introducing complexity and nuance into DEI conversations remains a viable “hack” for DEI, but we note that the fervor for DEI training has subsided or maybe gone underground. However, what has not changed much is the rise of the “bureaucratic class” in academia, responsible for implementing ideological pedagogy that maligns the pursuit of knowledge.Podcast Notes:How Ed Schools Became a Menace to Higher Education, Lyell Asher in Quillette https://quillette.com/2019/03/06/how-ed-schools-became-a-menace-to-higher-education/Look Who’s Talking About Equity, Lyell Asher in Quillette https://quillette.com/2020/08/12/look-whos-talking-about-educational-equity/Understanding Ed School Ideology and Dysfunction | Lyell Asher, Hold my Drink Podcast (now Dissidents Podcast)Why Knowledge Matters: Rescuing Our Children from Failed Educational Theories, E.D. Hirsch, https://www.amazon.com/Why-Knowledge-Matters-Rescuing-Educational-ebook/dp/B07MTP1Q7Y/The Schools We Need and Why We Don’t Have Them, E.D. Hirsch https://www.amazon.com/Schools-We-Need-Dont-Have-ebook/dp/B0036S4DX8/ How The Other Half Learns: Equality, Excellence, and the Battle Over School Choice, Robert Pondiscio https://www.amazon.com/How-Other-Half-Learns-Excellence-ebook/dp/B07PH9J87P/ Undoctrinate: How Politicized Classrooms Harm Kids and Ruin Our Schools―and What We Can Do About It, Bonnie Kerrigan Snyder https://www.amazon.com/Undoctrinate-Politicized-Classrooms-Schools_and-About/dp/1642939129 Episode 47: Undoctrinating the Classroom | Bonnie Snyder, Hold my Drink Podcast (now Dissidents Podcast The Longing for Total Revolution: Philosophic Sources of Social Discontent from Rousseau to Marx and Nietzsche, Bernard Yack https://www.amazon.com/Longing-Total-Revolution-Philosophic-Discontent-ebook/dp/B0CVPV7QHS/Why Colleges are Becoming Cults, Lyell Asher on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hybqg81n-MThe Cultural Matrix: Understanding Black Youth, Orlando Patterson https://www.amazon.com/Cultural-Matrix-Understanding-Black-Youth/dp/0674728750/Soft White Underbelly, YouTube Channel 

We have a lot of questions about AI. Maybe you do too. If you follow our work you’ll note that we’ve done several presentations on AI (Reimaging the Academy Panel Discussion, and This is Your Brain on AI Dissidents Podcast). To get a better grasp on both the problems and opportunities, we invited Robert “RSnake” Hansen, a tech security guru and author of the book, AI’s Best Friend, to our podcast. Our conversation centers on the moral alignment of AI. The divergence between censorship and alignment is discussed, which touches on the issue of bad actors in the design on AI. While we work to “raise” AI from infancy into what we hope can model a “best friend”, one of the tools we have to monitor the progression is transparency. We know that China’s DeepSeek leans heavily on censorship; Gemini leans politically left; Grok leans right. These evaluations and critiques are important as we find the best way forward in this new landscape. But will it be enough? If AI can do wonderful things beyond human capacity, like cure cancer, are we ok losing some of our autonomy “to the machine”? Let us know in the comments what you think.Podcast Resources:AI's Best Friend: https://www.amazon.com/AIs-Best-Friend-Robert-Hansen-ebook/dp/B0CWDJCVHT

Dr. Nafees Alam and Matt Watson interview Andrew Hartz, founder of the Open Therapy Institute. They discuss the impact of political issues on mental health training, the importance of addressing bias in therapy, and the need for cultural competence that includes diverse sociopolitical values. Hartz shares insights on diverse approaches in therapy, the significance of self-censorship, and the challenges of navigating emotional responses in therapy sessions. The conversation emphasizes the importance of patient-centered care and building awareness of diverse perspectives in mental health.

This week Elizabeth is joined by Ryan Tsapatsaris for a discussion about the complex world of online communities focused on aggression and hate. We draw insights from the book Social Processes of Online Hate as well as Ryan’s own research and expertise in the area. While most of us assume that attackers are laser focused on their targets and on affecting some change, the evidence suggests that attackers are more interested in themselves and in impressing one another. Far more time is spent celebrating, reminiscing, cross-posting, and bragging about their own behaviors than on discussing their target or the target’s behaviors.  Ryan shares examples and his knowledge about platforms like 4chan, the dynamics of anonymity and status, subculture language, and the gamification of online cancellations.  We also spend time talking about “concern trolling” and explore why it works particularly well when directed toward a university or organization. Listen while we work to unpack online hate and its implications for society.Podcast notesRyan’s article on 4chan: https://oilab.eu/the-bakers-guild-the-secret-order-countering-4chans-affordances/  OILab, an Amsterdam-based network of interdisciplinary scholars scrutinizing political subcultures on the fringe corners of the Web: https://oilab.eu/This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things: Mapping the Relationship between Online Trolling and Mainstream Culture by Whitney Phillips: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262529877/this-is-why-we-cant-have-nice-things/Cancel Culture: Tales from the Front Lines by Paul du Quenoy: https://www.academicapress.com/node/523Walther J. B., Rice R. E. (Eds). (2025). Social process of online hate. Routledge: https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/92521

On the eve of July 4th, co-authors Jennifer Richmond and Winkfield Twyman joined Equiano Project Head of Content Ada Akpala for an insightful conversation about blackness and race identity with noted podcaster Danielle Romero.  A native of Troy, New York, Danielle discovered one day that her putative French and Irish maternal great grandmother Lola Perot had spent all her married life passing for white in New York. In fact, Lola was born Creole (colored) in Louisiana. In a fascinating roundtable, we explore where does Romero land in our country's obsession with racial identity? What does it mean when a European American discovers the story of one's family was a racial lie? Is it possible that Romero's origin story can bring us closer to connection in our universal humanity? Is the true impact of Danielle's story not her ancestor who passed for white, but that Danielle's mixed ancestry is a lens into our racial future as Americans?  In a sense, Danielle is the tip of a spear. More and more Americans will discover they are of multiple ancestry groups over time. Come join us for an hour with a national leader in the hunt for identity sans race.    Podcast NotesDanielle Romero’s Podcast, NYTNThe Equiano Project https://www.theequianoproject.com/My great grandmother hid who she was. 20 years later I understand why | Opinion, The Tennessean, Danielle RomeroRace Is Beginning to Bore Me, Winkfield Twyman, Jr. The Legacies of Black Pioneers: The Problem with Black Excellence with Ada Akpala, The Dissidents PodcastAre Light-Skinned People the White People of the Black Community? Winkfield Twyman, Jr.The Souls of Black Folk, Winkfield Twyman, Jr.This is Your Brain on AI: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Dissidents Podcast

In this week’s podcast, Jennifer Richmond sits down with Dmitri Shufutinsky’s to discuss his latest article for White Rose Magazine, The Woke Right Keeps the Pendulum Swinging. In his article Shufutinsky argues that a faction he terms the "Woke Right" has emerged within conservative movements, mirroring the identity politics and grievance-based ideology of the progressive left while simply reversing the targets and victims.We discuss key figures like Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, Joe Rogan, and Jackson Hinkle as representatives of this movement. Shufutinsky contends that rather than rejecting woke ideology entirely, they've adopted its methods while positioning straight, Christian white men as the new victim class. This manifests through historical revisionism (including Holocaust revisionism), anti-Semitism disguised as "just asking questions," and the weaponization of Christian slogans like "Christ is King" for tribal signaling.In foreign policy, Shufutinsky argues the Woke Right paradoxically supports America's adversaries, particularly Russia and Iran, while opposing support for Ukraine and Israel. He finds it particularly troubling that supposed conservatives would back Putin's Russia despite its low church attendance, high abortion rates, and authoritarian nature that contradicts traditional conservative values. He also emphasizes that the idea of America First, shouldn’t be America Only, which seems to be part of the messaging behind this movement’s foreign policy initiatives.Shufutinsky warns that this movement undermines genuine conservative goals by providing ammunition to the progressive left, potentially causing the political pendulum to swing back even harder toward woke leftism. Instead of achieving the "common sense" governance many voters sought in 2024, the Woke Right perpetuates the same divisive dynamics it claims to oppose.Shufutinsky concludes by calling for a more responsible conservative approach that maintains strong alliances, supports genuine diversity and merit, and avoids both extremes of woke ideology to preserve American strength and Western civilization. Podcast NotesThe Woke Right Keeps the Pendulum Swinging, Dmitri Shufutinky: https://whiterosemagazine.com/a-woke-right-keeps-the-pendulum-swinging/Nation of Victims, Vivek Ramaswamy: https://www.amazon.com/Nation-Victims-Identity-Politics-Excellence-ebook/dp/B09PLHGNHD

In this timely episode, FAIR Executive Director Monica Harris, joined by Gabriel Nadales and Suzannah Alexander, examines the troubling rise of mandated ideological conformity across professional education programs with Zander Keig and Nafees Alam. Following FAIR's groundbreaking formal complaint to the Department of Education against CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs) for compelling students to adopt specific ideological positions on race and privilege, the panel explores how similar patterns of coerced belief systems have infiltrated social work, medical, legal, and K-12 education programs nationwide. The discussion delves into real-world consequences for students who face academic penalties for expressing dissenting views or religious beliefs that conflict with prescribed ideologies, while offering concrete strategies for promoting genuine viewpoint diversity and protecting students' constitutional rights. As the conversation unfolds, the panelists thoughtfully consider whether FAIR's approach to challenging CACREP could serve as a model for addressing ideological conformity enforced by other accrediting bodies, such as the CSWE (Council on Social Work Education), ultimately asking whether the time has come for a broader movement to restore intellectual freedom and critical thinking in professional education.Podcast notesFAIR is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to advancing civil rights and liberties, and promoting a common culture grounded in fairness, understanding, and humanity. Check out FAIR at https://www.fairforall.org/ and their "American Experience Curriculum" at https://www.fairforall.org/american-experience-curriculum/

Podcast descriptionIn this week's episode clinical psychologist Patrick Lockwood joins Elizabeth for a discussion about why, despite all evidence to the contrary, beliefs in learning styles remain strong.  We talk about the psychological and institutional forces that promote the myth including the countless journal articles, opinion pieces and websites that make fuzzy suggestions about neuroscience and other vague claims few individual learners and teachers are capable of evaluating for accuracy.  Our desires for uniqueness, to blame forces outside our control when we perform at or below average, confirmation biases, and the ubiquitousness of the myth are just a few of the reasons we can perhaps forgive individuals for succumbing to the learning style grift.  More egregious is that institutions continue to cling to them.  Learning styles are actively taught to future teachers in schools of education, to students of all ages in K-12 classrooms, in tutoring centers, and of course, touted in online forums.  Patrick and Elizabeth share literature that debunks learning styles and  take the listener on a brief tour of learning habits and strategies that are supported by research.Podcast notesBrown SBRE (2023) The persistence of matching teaching and learning styles: A review of the ubiquity of this neuromyth, predictors of its endorsement, and recommendations to end it. Front. Educ. 8:1147498.  Link: Brown Myth of Learning StylesLink to University of Michigan Teaching and Technology summary: Myth of Learning StylesRohrer, D., & Pashler, H. (2012). Learning styles: Where’s the evidence? Medical Education, 46, 34-35: Where's the Evidence?Dr. Lockwood has worked for non-profits, treatment centers, has trained with experts in the field of addiction treatment, and worked at every level of the mental health and addiction treatment industry for the past 15 years. He has a podcast on YouTube about topics related to mental health, wellness, psychology, and neuroscience.  He is the author of “The Fear Problem,” a book integrating the neuroscience and evolutionary psychology of our fear process to explain why we get triggered by politics and other “hot topics.” Currently Dr. Lockwood teaches at California Lutheran University and is the COO of Oak Forest Recovery Center. Patrick's website: https://www.lockwoodconsultingsolutions.com/Patrick's youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DrPatrickLockwood His Twitter handle is @DoctorLockwood

In 2022 Counterweight, the organization that Helen Pluckrose founded and that was absorbed into the Institute for Liberal Values had a virtual conference on Alternatives to Diversity and Inclusion. Starting in 2025, we will be rolling out one talk a month that was presented at the conference. We sit down with the original presenters throughout 2025 to see what has changed since 2022. With Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives seemingly on the chopping block, we are curious to hear what our original participants are witnessing and experiencing on the ground. Is DEI really dead or just in remission? Are there healthy alternatives to DEI that we should consider, or do we throw the baby out with the bathwater and wipe our hands clean? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments.This month Jennifer Richmond interviews Brandy Shufutinsky.  In the update to her original talk on Liberal Approaches to Diversity and Inclusion, where she highlighted anti-black racism and antisemitism and the ties between the two, we explore what has changed since 2022, especially in light of the Oct 7 2023 massacre of Israeli citizens and the current conversations around Israel and Palestine. The “Global Intifada” is a strange marriage of Islamist and left-wing extremism, often called the red-green coalition. While it is often easy to spot extreme right-wing antisemitism, the red-green version of antisemitism is often unacknowledged. This does not result in the proliferation of diversity and inclusion but rather an erasure of history and the erosion of common values.Podcast Notes:A Woke Right Keeps the Pendulum Swinging, Dmitri Shufutinsky https://whiterosemagazine.com/a-woke-right-keeps-the-pendulum-swinging/Whiteshift: Populism, Immigration and the Future of White Minorities, Eric Kaufmann https://www.amazon.com/Whiteshift-Populism-Immigration-Future-Majorities/dp/1468316974Vatican nativity scene showing baby Jesus on a keffiyeh removed after backlash https://www.timesofisrael.com/vatican-nativity-scene-showing-baby-jesus-on-a-keffiyeh-removed-after-backlash/

In this week's episode Winkfield Twyman Jr. joins Elizabeth to explore our lay view of the pros and cons of artificial intelligence. Our discussion is guided by several reports, popular press articles, and opinion pieces that expose different types of challenges and perspectives. We start with education. teaching, and learning. We include concerns about the effects of AI on information literacy, diversity of thought, and how it has impacted the societal and personal value placed on knowledge. We talk about AI risks and opportunities in research, medicine, psychology, and relationships. Wink marvels at the ability to personalize most any intervention to get targeted AI help with tasks both big and small. Unsurprisingly, he focuses on the positive, while Elizabeth reminds us of the downsides. Podcast notes Everyone is Cheating Their Way Through CollegeThe VeldtAI is AmazingThe (artificial intelligence) therapist can see you nowAlien Intelligence or How We All Became Captain DunselHow Humans Respond When the Ground Shifts Beneath ThemMeet the Women with AI Boyfriends

In this week's Dissident's podcast, James & Chris explore some of the legal, political, and moral arguments that undercut the basis for the modern welfare-regulatory state - which sees coercive powers concentrated in a central government body that intervenes into most human affairs, often in illiberal ways that pit one interest group against another or prioritize the interests of those in power. They show why it can only ever be that way under the current paradigm, regardless of who is in charge. With a particular focus on welfare & IP regimes, they go on to discuss & debate some novel alternatives that could take the place of the current concentrated power structure while yielding safer & more productive outcomes for all citizens. Such liberal alternatives can also still solve many of the human challenges that the prevailing coercive systems seek to remedy.

In this episode of The Dissidents Podcast, Jennifer Richmond and Nafees Alam dive into an engaging conversation on the intersections of fitness, mental health, faith, and societal challenges. Beginning with personal stories of their fitness journeys, they explore how physical well-being impacts mental clarity, self-awareness, and day-to-day productivity. Drawing on new scientific insights into gender-specific fitness practices, Jennifer reflects on her own realizations about training and physiology, while Nafees shares his perspective on how fitness builds resilience and fosters intellectual growth.The discussion expands to broader societal topics, including the role of biology in shaping conversations around gender, trans inclusion in sports, and the implications for fairness and personal identity. With compassion and curiosity, they navigate the complexities of these issues while offering potential solutions, such as the idea of separating sports leagues into "female" and "women's" categories. They also explore the critical role of diet and exercise in addressing mental health concerns, with a focus on long-term habits and scientific research.Through humor, humility, and thought-provoking dialogue, Jennifer and Nafees challenge listeners to embrace self-awareness, seek balance between individuality and inclusivity, and approach divisive topics with kindness and curiosity. This episode is a call to action for listeners to reflect on their health, values, and the role of reason in creating a more connected and compassionate society.Podcast Notes:Fair, Inclusive & Safe: A Transgender Sports Policy Panel Discussion: https://youtube.com/live/pyoSzg7Z8MY?feature=shareFrom Worriers to Warriors: The Cultural Rise of Women with Cory Clark: https://youtube.com/live/AUcdKecT3_Q?feature=shareTransform Your Mental Health With Diet & Lifestyle | Dr. Chris Palmer, Huberman LabThe Body Reset: How Women Should Eat & Exercise for Health, Fat Loss, & Enery, Mel Robbins Podcast

In 2022 Counterweight, the organization that Helen Pluckrose founded and that was absorbed into the Institute for Liberal Values had a virtual conference on Alternatives to Diversity and Inclusion. Starting in 2025, we will be rolling out one talk a month that was presented at the conference. We sit down with the original presenters throughout 2025 to see what has changed since 2022. With Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives seemingly on the chopping block, we are curious to hear what our original participants are witnessing and experiencing on the ground. Is DEI really dead or just in remission? Are there healthy alternatives to DEI that we should consider, or do we throw the baby out with the bathwater and wipe our hands clean? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments.This month Jennifer Richmond interviews Zander Keig.  In his update to his original talk on Liberal Approaches to Diversity and Inclusion, where he shared elegant ways to emphasize heterodox views in trans care, Zander updates us on how the conversation on trans identity has changed over the past three years. Zander continues to approach the conversation always centering the individual and the search for “third spaces” to navigate “third rail” issues. Zander reviews some big changes over the past three years, including the recently discussed science that suggests that rapid and rabid adherence to sex change as a solution for exploring gender identity, may need reconsideration. Unfortunately, what has not changed is the polarization that continues to hijack the conversation, making genuine progress elusive.You can find his original presentation here: https://youtu.be/fJxCDJMPwvY

In this week's episode we honor the importance of men and masculine traits for a functioning society and human survival, for productive and enjoyable interactions, and for the sake of diversity. That's right, Nafees Alam joins Elizabeth to talk about men--men in the gym, men in the classroom, men and ideology, men's portrayal in the media, masculinity, and relationships. We use as a jumping off point an article about the importance of both belonging and uniqueness. The author argues that young men may feel excluded and unvalued in the current socio-political environment.  When society's focus shifts to include and pay tribute to the distinctiveness of some (e.g. women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+), the special and important contributions of other individuals and groups may naturally be set aside. Elizabeth and Nafees admit to seeing the basic human needs of belonging and uniqueness reflected in their own behavioral choices and preferences and wonder if this an unavoidable cycle inherent to human societal development.  If so, can we all (particularly men in today's society) find ways to define and nurture our own sense of belonging and uniqueness so that cycles will be less personally and socially costly?  Nafees helps us close on a positive note because above all, he believes in a resilient society.Podcast notesVersteegen, P. L. (2025). Trump Voters’ social position in U.S. Society: Uniqueness and radical‐right support. Political Psychology, 46(1), 145–165. https://dcjournal.com/how-toxic-masculinity-becomes-necessary-masculinityhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/pop-culture-mental-health/202502/celebrating-strong-independent-menPlease consider donating to the Institute for Liberal Values, a 501c3 non-profit organization at ilvalues.org. All donations go to support our continued programming to realize our mission to provide the skills and support required to build community where there has been division, encourage free expression where there has been censorship, and foster optimism where there is fear.