Quillette Podcast

<p>The <strong>Quillette Podcast</strong> is a platform for rigorous, academic discussions rooted in common sense and free inquiry. Non-dogmatic and grounded in liberal values, the podcast serves as a beacon for thoughtful conversation on science, politics, philosophy, and culture. Quillette prides itself on intellectual honesty, avoiding ideological extremism in favor of evidence-based reasoning and progress. Hosted by leading voices in academia and journalism, past guests include evolutionary biologist <strong>Richard Dawkins</strong>, social psychologist <strong>Jonathan Haidt</strong>, and journalist <strong>Douglas Murray</strong>, among others. Expect candid conversations that promote common sense and challenge anti-science and conspiratorial narratives from both the far left and right.</p>

Finding Humor in Dark Places

Quillette podcast host speaks with ⁠Healing Roar⁠ founder and comedian Matthew Pettit, who candidly tells audiences about the severe childhood abuse that once propelled him into a life of sexual confusion, meth addiction, crime, and incarceration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

11-10
52:36

A Crisis of Tolerance

Managing Editor Iona Italia talks to Harry Saul Markham about the increasingly acute threat of Islamism in the UK and the normalisation of virulent antisemitism among British Muslims. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

11-05
13:59

Is There a Politically Motivated ‘War on Science’? (And If So, Who’s Waging It?)

Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay speaks with theoretical physicist and cosmologist Lawrence Krauss about ⁠his latest book projec⁠t, in which renowned scholars speak out about threats to open inquiry and the scientific process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

11-01
33:02

Machetes in Melbourne

Managing Editor Iona Italia talks to criminal justice researcher Andrew Bushnell about the many causes of the recent surge in crime in Melbourne. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10-25
14:15

From Cult Child to Chess Wunderkind

Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay speaks with Danny Rensch about his astounding journey from the ‘Church of Immortal Consciousness’ to the role of Chief Chess Officer at Chess.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10-20
36:30

Desexing the Language of Motherhood

Managing Editor Iona Italia talks to Dr Karleen Gribble, who works in the field of maternal and infant health, on the impacts of desexed language on women’s healthcare and wellbeing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10-09
14:51

Managing the Growing Gender-Critical Counterrevolution

Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay talks with Canadian Genspect director Mia Hughes about the emerging ‘gender glasnost’—and the best way to continue rolling back the excesses of trans activism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10-04
44:39

The End of Woke

Managing Editor Iona Italia talks to author Andrew Doyle about his new book, The End of Woke: How the Culture War Went Too Far and What to Expect from the Counter-Revolution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

09-25
15:04

When New Netherland Became New York

Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay speaks with Russell Shorto, whose new book chronicles the extraordinary events in 1664 that delivered Manhattan from the Dutch to the British. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

09-20
35:03

Should Feminists Work with the Right?

Managing Editor Iona Italia talks to philosopher Holly Lawford-Smith about her new book, Feminism Beyond Left and Right. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

09-11
14:23

RFK Jr.’s Unprecedented Attack on Life-saving Vaccines

Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay speaks with Stanford University infectious diseases expert Jake Scott about the perils of rolling back immunization treatments for COVID, RSV, and Measles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

09-06
37:47

The Modular Mind

Managing Editor Iona Italia talks to evolutionary psychologist Rob Kurzban about his book Why Everyone (Else) Is a Hypocrite: Evolution and the Modular Mind. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

08-28
14:40

A Jewish Girl in Revolutionary Iran

Managing Editor Iona Italia talks to Roya Hakakian about her extraordinary memoir, Journey from the Land of No: A Girlhood Caught in Revolutionary Iran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

08-22
15:37

What Does It Take to Develop a ‘Scrabble-Shaped Brain’?

Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay talks to linguist, mathematician, and tournament organizer John Chew about the world of ultra-elite Scrabble word-masters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

08-16
42:58

Parsi: A Fiercely Contested Identity

Iona Italia talks to novelist and historian Nev March about how a series of landmark court cases in the 19th and 20th centuries upended both the Indian legal system and the Parsi community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

08-08
15:34

How LGB Became Estranged from T

Gay activist-turned-journalist Adam Zivo explains how radicalized forms of trans and queer advocacy became a liability to the once-united LGBT movement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

07-31
36:04

War and the End of Empire

Iona Italia talks to historian and film-maker Phil Craig about the latest in his series of books about World War II: 1945: A Reckoning: War, Empire and the Struggle for a New World. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

07-25
15:35

When Entertainment Reporting Gets Political

Quillette podcast host interviews veteran entertainment journalist Ben Mulroney—whose career has taken him to the Oscars red carpet and Kelly Ripa’s studio—about how ideological fads have damaged his industry.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

07-17
36:43

The First Journalists

The philosopher Stephen Harrop interviews Quillette’s Managing Editor Iona Italia about her book Anxious Employment on the journalism of Enlightenment London. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

07-11
16:08

Social Work Without Stereotypes

Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay talks to Heterodox Academy scholar Nafees Alam about the need to challenge political orthodoxies in the field of social work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

07-07
30:04

Two Eyes

I actually do think it's quite rational to think that the position one changes their mind to is likely more valid than the position first held, because of the force of argument necessary to overcome the natural mental inertia of the first position would have to be significantly more compelling.

08-12 Reply

Two Eyes

I absolutely agree with Oliver regarding Dr. Iona Italia's voice. I could listen to her beautiful way of speaking English all day long.

08-12 Reply

Two Eyes

you kept referring to David as if he was a girl who was finally allowed transition to be male as if he is an example of how important it is to allow girls who believe themselves to "really " be a boy, to transition during puberty, for their own good. What nonsense. David always was a boy from birth, inspite of his tragic injury that caused the loss of his penis, and the monstrous surgeries and quack treatments to try to carve his body into a girl. What this case proves is just how cruel and medically unethical it is to practice medical sexual transition on minors.

09-13 Reply

Brian J Burke

I enjoyed the interview. Even though I agree with some of Heather's point of view I also appreciated the push back and not backing down even when Heather seemed to get frustrated with it.

05-24 Reply

Brian J Burke

Interesting, thanks.

12-21 Reply

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