Linguist and professor John McWhorter engages in a Q&A session covering topics such as Trump's morality, gender pronouns, African American scholastic performance, linguistics, and advice on dealing with tragic events. The episode explores ethical considerations, societal shifts in gender identity, language structure comparisons between German and English, and navigating grief and justice in a changing neighborhood.
John McWhorter clarifies his stance on gender fluidity and pronoun usage.
Glenn addresses subscriber questions on his linguistic choices and social responsibility.
Listeners are invited to engage in challenging discussions on race relations and justice.
Deep dives
Importance of Subscribers' Contribution and Benefits
Paid subscribers of the podcast receive episodes on Mondays, access to exclusive content, ticket pre-sales for live events, monthly Q&A sessions with hosts, and other perks. The contributions of subscribers also support grassroots initiatives empowering Black development, with 10% of profits donated to the Woodson Center.
Engaging Subscribers with Thought-Provoking Questions
The hosts deviate from their usual program format to respond to thought-provoking and provocative questions from paying subscribers. This change offers subscribers the opportunity to engage with the hosts on a deeper level by exploring questions related to current events, societal issues, and personal reflections.
Challenges and Benefits of Structured Q&A Sessions
The hosts adapt their conversation format to focus on responding to subscriber questions rather than their typical free-form discussions. This shift allows for a more structured exploration of diverse topics, offering insights into complex issues, such as politics, language, cultural dynamics, and personal reflections.
Understanding and Addressing Racial Tensions and Social Issues
The hosts delve into the complexities of social issues, including racial tensions, criminal justice, and community reconciliation. Discussions encompass the impact of media narratives, societal movements like Black Lives Matter, and personal experiences related to race, violence, and justice.
Nurturing Dialogues for Cultivating Community Engagement
The podcast fosters dialogue on sensitive topics such as justice, race relations, and community healing. By encouraging honest conversations, listeners are urged to engage in constructive discussions that promote understanding, empathy, and positive contributions to social cohesion and communal well-being.
17:49 Did John really mean it when he implied he hoped someone would assassinate Trump?
23:00 Lauren wants John to justify his “casual endorsement” of gender fluidity in pronoun usage
32:37 Jerry asks why “external factors” like poverty are often used to explain lagging African American scholastic performance, those factors haven’t hindered them from achieving wildly disproportionate success in the cultural realm
38:34 Patrick calls out Glenn for his frequent use of the word “irregardless”
41:26 kgweiland asks Glenn if the Pamela Foster story in my memoir was “yours to share”
46:17 Scott Alex has some technical questions about linguistics for John
50:01 Jakon Joi asks for advice dealing with the tragic, possibly racially motivated murder of her father
John’s book, The Language Hoax: Why the World Looks the Same in Any Language
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit glennloury.substack.com/subscribe
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