S2 E80. Why Western Parasitic Minds Love to Hate Israel

Dec 20, 2024

Gad Sa’ad, an acclaimed academic and author of 'The Parasitic Mind', dives into the complex themes of antisemitism and the moral decay of western societies. He likens harmful ideologies to 'mind pathogens' that infect societal behavior. Sa’ad critiques Canadian politics, highlighting the rising anti-Semitism and the cultural chaos resulting from identity politics. With humor and sharp insights, he also shares his experiences at Mar-a-Lago and emphasizes resilience in standing up for beliefs amidst societal pressures.

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INSIGHT

Idea Pathogens

Idea pathogens, like postmodernism and identity politics, are metaphorical brain parasites.
These can infect minds, leading to irrational behavior and societal decay.

ANECDOTE

Sneaky Fucker Strategy

Gad Saad explains the "sneaky fucker strategy" from zoology.
He suggests that male feminists use this strategy to gain social or sexual access.

ANECDOTE

Trudeau as a Mind Pathogen

Vivian Berkovich suggests Justin Trudeau embodies woke ideology and social lunacy.
Saad agrees, highlighting Trudeau's impact on Canada.

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I am thrilled to bring you this fascinating chat with Professor Gad Sa’ad, an iconic intellectual figure who helps us to make sense of this seemingly mad moment in history. Sharp, brilliant, fearless—and also very funny—Prof. Sa’ad likens the thought and mind controls pervading western societies to bacteria—or pathogens—that cause disease. It’s also the focus of his international best-seller—The Parasitic Mind. We get into antisemitism, why Israel is somewhat inoculated against woke-ness, the moral corruption of western societies, and his week at Mar-a-Lago in the red velvet jacket. (It’s a State of Tel Aviv scoop…and a great story.) And much more. Sa’ad first came onto my radar in 2016 with his bullseye critiques of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. While the world swooned, believing him to be impossibly handsome and progressive, Sa’ad saw through the phony platitudes and intellectual deficit. It took Canadians and the world a little longer to see not only the void that was and is Trudeau but how dangerous he is. Canada, sadly, has become the focus of so much negative global attention. The economy is in ruins. Society is cleaved by violence and identity-based divisions. And antisemitism on the streets of Montreal and Toronto is perhaps the most extreme of any city in the world. We dig into it all—and have a few good laughs.

Podcast Notes

Video Version

Professor Sa’ad is on leave from Concordia University this year and is Visiting Professor and Global Ambassador for the 2024-25 academic year at Northwood University in Michigan. Born in Beirut, he has lived most of his life since fleeing Lebanon in 1975 in Montreal, Canada. A link to Professor Sa’ad’s longer bio is available here.

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