Australiana is now Fire at Will - your safe space for dangerous conversations. Across the western world, cosplay protests are ongoing in some of the most elite academic institutions. They point to a deeper malaise in places of higher education. That's a real problem. The illiberal dogmas that have infiltrated our social institutions have their roots in the cultural rot in western education systems. To discuss how this happened, and what can be done, Will is joined by Eric Kaufmann. Eric is Professor of Politics at the University of Buckingham. His next book is out soon. It is titled 'Taboo: How making race sacred produced a cultural revolution.' Follow Will Kingston and Fire at Will on social media here [https://linktr.ee/fireatwillpod]. Subscribe to The Spectator Australia here. [https://www.spectator.com.au/join/]
Introducing your safe space for dangerous conversations. Follow Will Kingston and Fire at Will on social media here [https://linktr.ee/fireatwillpod]. Subscribe to The Spectator Australia here. [https://www.spectator.com.au/join/]
Western liberal democratic capitalism has created more prosperity, and enabled more human flourishing, than any other social system. It is something we should be proud of. And yet, Jonah Goldberg argues it is under attack, both from illiberal progressive identity politics, and right-wing populism. Jonah is one of America's most esteemed political pundits. He was the first editor of National Review Online, before founding The Dispatch - a digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary on politics, policy and culture. He is a regular contributor to CNN and The Los Angeles Times, and a #1 New York Times bestselling author. Follow Australiana on social media here [https://linktr.ee/fireatwillpod]. Subscribe to The Spectator Australia here. [https://www.spectator.com.au/join/] Visit The Dispatch here [https://thedispatch.com/].
There's a common refrain when it comes to housing in Australia today: 'it's never been harder to enter the housing market'. Housing affordability has been labelled by politicians, the media, and aspiring homeowners as a historic crisis. What if that's just not the case? What if we've seen the same story countless times before? What the markets are doing what they have always done, and what they should be doing? Perhaps, as Cameron Murray suggests, the market isn't the answer? Cameron is an economist and Australia's leading expert on housing. His new book is titled, 'The Great Housing Hijack: The Hoaxes and Myths Keeping Prices High for Renter and Buyers in Australia'. Follow Australiana on social media here. [https://linktr.ee/AustralianaPod] Subscribe to The Spectator Australia here. [https://www.spectator.com.au/join/] Subscribe to Cameron's Substack here [https://www.fresheconomicthinking.com/].
It's easy to forget that journalists were once invested with immense trust by citizens. This is no longer the case. Journalists are amongst the least trusted members of society, and it has been largely self-inflicted. The rise of activist journalism over objective journalism, the rush for online clicks, and the narcissistic desire of too many to transition from being journalists to media personalities has blighted the profession. The question is, is journalism beyond saving? Anthony De Ceglie is well placed to answer the question. Anthony was the Deputy Editor at the Daily Telegraph, and is now Editor in Chief of West Australian newspapers, including The West Australian, and the editor in chief of Seven West Media's new evening digital newspaper, The Nightly. Follow Australiana on social media here. [https://linktr.ee/AustralianaPod] Subscribe to The Spectator Australia here. [https://www.spectator.com.au/join/] Visit The Nightly here [https://thenightly.com.au/].
Gen Z has developed quite a reputation. Lazy. Difficult to work with. Technology-addicted. And of course, insufferably woke. What if that reputation is ill-founded? What if, in fact, Gen Z is the most culturally conservative generation since World War Two? What if Gen Z are the saviours-in-waiting of western civilisation? That's the opinion of content creator, author and Gen Z-er, Isabel Brown. Isabel's new book is titled, 'The End of the Alphabet: How Gen Z Can Save America'. Follow Australiana on social media here. [https://linktr.ee/AustralianaPod] Subscribe to The Spectator Australia here. [https://www.spectator.com.au/join/]
Sometimes it feels like the tidal wave of 'wokeness' (or identity politics) washed over the western world almost overnight. It has captured more or less every societal institution in a remarkably short period of time. However, the intellectual roots of the movement can be traced back over fifty years. The best analysis on how it has achieved such incredible influence comes from the German-American political scientist, Yascha Mounk. Will and Yascha discuss his latest book, 'The Identity Trap: A Story of Ideas and Power in Our Time'. Follow Australiana on social media here. [https://linktr.ee/AustralianaPod] Subscribe to The Spectator Australia here. [https://www.spectator.com.au/join/]
Politics is downstream from culture. To change politics, one must first change culture. The left intrinsically understands this in a way that the right simply does not. The arts have been captured by a toxic mixture of identity politics, social justice ideology, and cancel culture. Matthew Marsden has seen this ideological takeover firsthand. He rose to fame from his role on the iconic British TV series Coronation Street, and has subsequently starred in a long list of Hollywood films, including Black Hawk Down, Resident Evil: Extinction, Rambo and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Follow Australiana on social media here. [https://linktr.ee/AustralianaPod] Subscribe to The Spectator Australia here. [https://www.spectator.com.au/join/] Subscribe to Matthew's YouTube channel here. [http://www.youtube.com/@matthewdmarsden]
There are two ways to look at American politics in 2024. There's the prevailing pessimistic view. Many people think democracy is under threat, the economy is structurally vulnerable, the military is stretched, and for many, the looming election represents a choice between two geriatric evils. There is another perspective. What incredible fun! American politics has never been so entertaining. And as we look forward to the election, no one knows what will happen. If anyone can make sense of it all, it's Charles C.W. Cooke. Charles is a senior writer at National Review, the host of the Charles C.W. Cooke Podcast, and the author of The Conservatarian Manifesto. Follow Australiana on social media here. [https://linktr.ee/AustralianaPod] Subscribe to The Spectator Australia here. [https://www.spectator.com.au/join/] Visit Charles' website here [https://charlescwcooke.com/].
It is now in vogue to celebrate non-Western cultures and disparage Western ones. Many well-meaning people have been fooled by hypocritical and inconsistent anti-West rhetoric. It's not just dishonest scholars who benefit from this intellectual fraud but hostile nations and human rights abusers hoping to distract from their own ongoing villainy. If the West is to survive, it must be defended. In this very special episode, Will talks to the preeminent defender of western civilization alive today, Douglas Murray. Follow Australiana on social media here. [https://linktr.ee/AustralianaPod] Subscribe to The Spectator Australia here. [https://www.spectator.com.au/join/]
We as a society are self-censoring at record rates. Say the wrong thing at the wrong moment to the wrong person and the consequences can be dire. When the truth is no defense and nuance is seen as an attack, self-censorship is a rational choice. Yet, our silence comes with a price. When we are too fearful to speak openly and honestly, we deprive ourselves of the ability to build genuine relationships, we yield all cultural and political power to those with opposing views, and we lose our ability to challenge ideas or change minds, even our own. Katherine Brodsky thinks it's time for principled individuals to hit the unmute button and resist the authoritarians among us who name, shame, and punish. Her new book is titled 'No Apologies: How to Find and Free Your Voice in the Age of Outrage—Lessons for the Silenced Majority'. Follow Australiana on social media here. [https://linktr.ee/AustralianaPod] Subscribe to The Spectator Australia here. [https://www.spectator.com.au/join/]
Australia is facing serious domestic and international challenges, all at a time when the political class has arguably never been so ill-equipped to address them. In fact, perhaps the only thing that nearly all Australians can agree on is that our leaders are not a patch on what they were in times gone by. At the same time, 'she'll be right, mate' has served Australia well enough so far, and may yet still. To help us understand the state of the nation and our politics in 2024, Will is joined by one of Australia's best-known and most insightful political journalists, Joe Hildebrand. Follow Australiana on social media here. [https://linktr.ee/AustralianaPod] Subscribe to The Spectator Australia here. [https://www.spectator.com.au/join/]
Bill Clinton's strategist James Carville memorably said, "It's the economy, stupid". Times have changed. The great political battles of our time are not waged over economics, but cultural issues. Today, "It's the culture, stupid". No one understands this better than Matt Goodwin. Matt is an academic and bestselling author, known for his work on political volatility, risk, populism, British politics, and Brexit. His book, 'Values, Voice and Virtue: The New British Politics' is one of the most influential political science books of modern times. Follow Australiana on social media here. [https://linktr.ee/AustralianaPod] Subscribe to The Spectator Australia here. [https://www.spectator.com.au/join/] Subscribe to Matt's Substack here [https://substack.com/@mattgoodwin].
Journalist. Contrarian. Iconoclast. Intellectual. Provocateur... And one of the most successful novelists of the 21st century. Lionel Shriver has, in her own words, spent a career courting self-destruction. But she's still standing. In this no-holds barred conversation with Will, Lionel gives her inimitable take on identity politics, the trans debate, and the manias that continue to afflict society in 2024. Note: Lionel's dog makes a cameo in the second half of the episode. Apologies on his behalf. Follow Australiana on social media here. [https://linktr.ee/AustralianaPod] Subscribe to The Spectator Australia here. [https://www.spectator.com.au/join/]
We all comfort ourselves by believing in cause and effect. According to Dr Brian Klaas, we wilfully ignore a bewildering truth: but for a few small changes, our lives and our societies could be profoundly different. When given the choice between complex uncertainty and comforting – but wrong – certainty, we too often choose comfort. In other words, we ignore the flukes. Brian is an associate professor of global politics at University College, London, a contributing writer for The Atlantic, and the author of several books, the most recent of which has just been released. It is titled: Fluke: Chance, Chaos, and why everything we do matters. Follow Australiana on social media here. [https://linktr.ee/AustralianaPod] Subscribe to The Spectator Australia here. [https://www.spectator.com.au/join/]
2024 is the biggest election year in history. Countries with more than half the world's population – over four billion people – will go to the polls. You'd think the more elections the better, right? Dr Nic Cheeseman would urge caution. In fact, he argues that the greatest political paradox of our time is that there are more elections than ever before, and yet the world is becoming less democratic. Nic is the Professor of Democracy at the University of Birmingham and the co-author of the book, 'How to Rig an Election'. Follow Australiana on social media here. [https://linktr.ee/AustralianaPod] Subscribe to The Spectator Australia here. [https://www.spectator.com.au/join/] Follow Nic on Twitter / X here [https://x.com/Fromagehomme?s=20].
The most astute social commentators on the present are the people who have the deepest understanding of the past. As Mark Twain famously said, "History doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes." Historians are best placed to hear the rhymes of history in the news of the day. There are few historians who have demonstrated such an aptitude and insight for understanding modern politics and culture as Dr Victor Davis Hanson. Victor is the Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution. He has written or edited twenty-five books, the latest of which is 'The Dying Citizen: How Progressive Elites, Tribalism, and Globalization Are Destroying the Idea of America'. Follow Australiana on social media here. [https://linktr.ee/AustralianaPod] Subscribe to The Spectator Australia here. [https://www.spectator.com.au/join/]
It's perhaps never been harder to speak the truth than it is in the West today. In fact, many people now implicitly question the value of the truth itself. That's why it's so important to recognise and champion people with the intellectual capacity and moral courage to speak the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it may be. Few people in the public discourse can speak deep truths with such simplicity and power as Zuby. Zuby is a rapper, author, podcast host, public speaker and creative entrepreneur, not to mention Elon Musk's dream presidential candidate… Follow Australiana on social media here. [https://linktr.ee/AustralianaPod] Subscribe to The Spectator Australia here. [https://www.spectator.com.au/join/] Subscribe to Real Talk with Zuby here. [https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLs4uxOIyme9zkwxp0xwn13pfDvPijsE2b&feature=shared]
Few people called for sanity as the world lost its collective mind during the COVID pandemic, but Jay Bhattacharya was certainly one of them. Jay is a Professor of Health Policy at Stanford University, a Senior Fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, and one of the three authors of The Great Barrington Declaration. In this wide-ranging conversation with Will, Jay discusses the litany of institutional failures that marred the pandemic response, and what we must do to avoid making the same mistakes again. Follow Australiana on social media here. [https://linktr.ee/AustralianaPod] Subscribe to The Spectator Australia here. [https://www.spectator.com.au/join/]
The overwhelming majority of academic articles come and go with little fanfare. There may be the odd admiring nod from a professor, or a few lively debates in university tutorial rooms. But that's normally about it. Unless you are Professor Bruce Gilley. In 2017, Bruce authored a watershed paper titled, 'The Case for Colonialism.' It sparked a global furore. Far from cowered, Bruce has just released a new book, also titled 'The Case for Colonialism', that doubles down on his argument: colonialism was, on balance, good for the colonised, and good for the world. Follow Australiana on social media here. [https://linktr.ee/AustralianaPod] Subscribe to The Spectator Australia here. [https://www.spectator.com.au/join/] Buy 'The Case for Colonialism' here. [https://amzn.asia/d/6jyd5Ho]