Quillette

Quillette Podcast

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Long-form conversations with scientists, writers, historians, and public intellectuals on the ideas shaping — and dividing — the Western world. Mostly hosted by Jonathan Kay — Canadian journalist, author, and Quillette editor whose books include Among the Truthers , a landmark investigation into conspiracy culture. Kay brings a rare combination of intellectual range, genuine curiosity, and willingness to push back, whether the subject is evolutionary biology, cancel culture, geopolitics, or the philosophy of free speech. Non-dogmatic, evidence-driven, and unafraid of controversy.

Author

Quillette

Episodes

Vivek Ramaswamy on the 'Woke Smoke' Blown by Corporate America 27.09.2021 33:42

Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay speaks with 36-year-old biotech entrepreneur and author Vivek Ramaswamy about how corporate elites burnish their progressive bona fides (and distract their critics) with anti-racism slogans and hashtags—instead of taking concrete steps to address real inequalities within their organizations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Szeps on the Myth of Australia's COVID 'Concentration Camps' 19.09.2021 50:25

Jonathan Kay interviews TV host and podcaster Josh Szeps about Australia's unique experience in managing the COVID pandemic—and the urban legends the country's quarantine system has spawned among right-wing pundits on the other side of the world Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

'Grievance Studies' Hoaxster Peter Boghossian on Quitting Portland State, and His Mission to Bring Intellectual Pluralism Back to Universtiy Education 13.09.2021 31:34

Philosopher Peter Boghossian tells Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay why he no longer felt he could provide his students with a proper education in the current ideological climate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Comedian and Podcaster Jamie Kilstein on His COVID-Era Struggles 07.09.2021 37:34

Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay speaks with Jamie Kilstein about the challenges he's faced since his excommunication from California's progressive entertainment circles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Satirist Simon Edge on His New Novel, 'The End of the World Is Flat,' a Send-up of Radical Gender Politics 31.08.2021 35:20

Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay talks to author Simon Edge about his new book, in which a fictional flat-earth advocacy group campaigns against the idea of a spherical earth (not to mention the 'globularist' 'TERGs' who oppose the new 'True Earth' orthodoxy) in the name of social justice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Journalist and Book Author Terry Glavin on the Fall of Kabul and the Fate of Afghanistan 23.08.2021 40:15

Host Jonathan Kay interviews Afghanistan expert Terry Glavin about the complex mix of warlords and foreign players who may seek to undo the country’s takeover by Taliban forces Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Comedian Jessica Pigeau on 'Safe Space' Performers, Progressive Mobbing, and Anxiety Overload in the World of Stand-Up 05.08.2021 1:01:25

Host Jonathan Kay interviews Vancouver-based queer comedian Jessica Pigeau about her recent Quillette essay describing the clash between good comedy and strident social-justice activism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author Milli Hill on the Growth of Social Justice Mobs Among Birthing Activists, Dhoullas, and Midwives 30.07.2021 36:45

Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay speaks with British writer Milli Hill about the online mob that accused her of transphobia in late 2020—and why she still refuses to describe women as "birthing people." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonathan Kay on Life at Quillette, The New York Times, FOX News, Seth Rogen, Dog Shampoo, His New Book, and Childhood Vacations at Del Boca Vista 23.07.2021 51:17

Quillette editor and podcast host Jonathan Kay speaks with David Bernstein, founder of the Jewish Institute for Liberal Values, about his life as a journalist and self-described “lapsed Jew” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Glenn Loury on America's Political Polarization and the 2020 Election 21.07.2021 1:06:52

Veteran professor and public intellectual Glenn Loury is interviewed by Australia's Josh Szeps for Quillette's Free Thought Live series. Professor Loury discusses America's political polarization, black voters, American history, and the 2020 election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christopher Rufo’s Whirlwind Campaign Against Critical Race Theory 13.07.2021 43:25

Quillette’s Jonathan Kay talks to activist Christopher Rufo about his new status as conservative intellectual celebrity—and asks whether the rising opposition to progressive ideological radicalism can go too far Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christian Toto on Progressive Ideological Inroads Into Children’s Shows, Anti-Racist Baby Books, And… Breakfast Cereal 06.07.2021 34:56

Quillette’s Jonathan Kay speaks to film writer Christian Toro about the increasingly direct identity-politics messaging that now is being pushed on North American toddlers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heather Mac Donald on The Juilliard School's Strange Anti-Racist Meltdown 27.06.2021 29:39

Quillette's Jonathan Kay speaks to City Journal writer Heather Mac Donald about how a single drama workshop caused Juilliard students to feel "traumatized"—sparking an activist campaign aimed at undermining the elite performing-arts school's famously rigorous standards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonathan Rauch on the importance of free speech in an age of misinformation 17.06.2021 30:49

Quillette's Toby Young talks to free speech advocate and Brookings Institution Fellow Jonathan Rauch about his new book The Constitution of Knowledge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Shermer on Our Enduring Fascination with UFOs 14.06.2021 37:44

Quillette’s Jonathan Kay talks to UFO expert Michael Shermer about why we keep searching the skies for signs of alien visitors (and why we always come away disappointed) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nicholas Wade Explains Why It’s No Longer Taboo to Ask Whether COVID-19 Was Caused by a Chinese Lab Leak 07.06.2021 27:16

Quillette’s Razib Khan speaks with veteran science writer Nicholas Wade about why so many scientists and journalists are now exploring theories about the origins of COVID-19 that, not so long, ago, were being dismissed as conspiracy theories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kenny Xu on Asian-Americans' Success, And Their Complicated Placement in the Progressive ‘Intersectional’ Hierarchy 28.05.2021 25:45

Host Jonathan Kay speaks with conservative activist, book author, and Quillette contributor Kenny Xu about the pressures that Asian-Americans now face to toe the line on progressive race orthodoxies—including acquiescing to their own unfavorable treatment in elite school admissions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author Helen Pluckrose on the Role of Postmodernism in the Construction of Modern Social-Justice Dogmas 25.05.2021 47:49

Quillette founder Claire Lehmann speaks with “Cynical Theories” co-author (and Grievance Studies Hoax collaborator) Helen Pluckrose about the influence of postmodern ideas in the formulation of the latest iterations of Critical Race Theory, Queer Theory, and other “intersectional” doctrines Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lingnan University scholar Peter Baehr on Academic Life Within Hong Kong’s Increasingly Repressive Political Atmosphere 14.05.2021 33:59

Quillette’s Jonathan Kay speaks with Hong Kong-based professor Peter Baehr about the many ways in which free speech and democratic politics are being suppressed by China’s mainland communist government, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Short Message From Quillette: Here's How to Help Us Make Our Podcast Better 12.05.2021 3:54

Want to suggest a topic or guest, critique a segment, or just let us know what you think? We want to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bernard Lane on the Fight for a More Balanced Approach Toward Children and Teens Seeking Medicalized Gender Change 10.05.2021 1:04:29

Quillette Editor-in-Chief Claire Lehmann talks to The Australian writer Bernard Lane about the severe risks associated with rushing gender dysphoric children into puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgery—and the rising tide of concerned parents who are pushing back against the campaign to reflexively ‘affirm’ children’s beliefs about their inner identity. Learn more about your ad choices....

Richard Hanania on the Real Reason Progressives Are Winning the Culture War: They Just Want It More 30.04.2021 24:50

Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay talks to Richard Hanania, President of the Center for the Study of Partisanship and Ideology, about his much-discussed essay, “Why is Everything Liberal? Cardinal Preferences Explain Why All Institutions are Woke” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Shellenberger on the Case for Nuclear Power, Progressive Hypocrisy on Energy Policy, and His New book, ‘Apocalypse Never’ 23.04.2021 42:29

Quillette founder Claire Lehmann talks to author and activist Michael Shellenberger about how environmental alarmism and ideological blind spots often prevent us from having a rational discussion about the best way to address climate change while growing national economies Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sean McMeekin on ‘Stalin’s War: A New History of World War II’ 18.04.2021 44:27

Quillette’s Jonathan Kay speaks with Bard University history professor Sean McMeekin about his new book, which describes how the fears and ambitions of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin shaped the course of the Second World War Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James Kirchick on 'The Disintegration of the ACLU' 09.04.2021 39:04

Quillette's Jonathan Kay talks to author James Kirchick about his recent Tablet article documenting how the American Civil Liberties Union abandoned its core mission in favor of doctrinaire progressive politics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices