Thinking Class

David Goodhart is a British journalist, commentator and author. David is the Head of the Demography, Immigration and Integration Unit at the think tank Policy Exchange and the founder and a former editor of Prospect magazine. David has authored four books, including The British Dream: Successes and Failures of Post-War Immigration, The Road to Somewhere: The Populist Revolt & The Future Of Politics, Head, Hand, Heart: The Struggle For Dignity And Status In The 21st Century, and most recently, The Care Dilemma: Caring Enough In The Age Of Sex Equality.In this episode, we talk about David's latest book, the tension between the trade-offs in pursuing freedom over demands of care for dependents, how many government policies undervalue domestic roles and the negative impacts of this on society, children and mental health, how family policies have been driven by care egalitarians rather than care balancers and why this matters, the implications of low fertility rates on our ability as a society to care for our families in future, the paradox of female happiness despite advancements in women's liberation, the challenges men face in a changing socio-economic landscape, the political blind spots regarding family dynamics, and why David is calling for a re-evaluation of family policies to support stability and address the demographic shifts we are experiencing and much, much more.Enjoy the show classmates. And don't forget to subscribe.You can follow David and his work at:X/TwitterCare Dilemma: Caring Enough In The Age Of Sex EqualityPolicy Exchange - Policy ExchangeYou can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:  X/TwitterYouTubeSubstackYou can watch the show on YouTube

Philip Kiszely is a cultural historian, an academic, an author, a political commentator, and senior fellow at the New Culture Forum. In this episode, we talk about the evolution of British culture, media, and education from the post-war era to the present day, why we have seen significant shifts in the media's treatment of Britain and its history, how British comedy has changed, how social media has impacted cultural identity, the decline of traditional music and comedy, our changing relationship with cultural heritage and what this means for youth culture today, the profound cultural shifts occurring in Britain, particularly in relation to identity, education, and societal values, the impact of mass immigration, the changing landscape of higher education and the policy choices and politics that have changed the fabric of our educational institutions, what the future of British identity amidst these transformations, what the country's response to Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day tells us about our culture, why there are glimmers of hope for a resurgence of traditional values and much, much more.Enjoy the show classmates. And don't forget to subscribe.You can also follow Philip and his work at:X/TwitterSubstackNew Culture Forum - WebsiteNew Culture Forum - YouTubeYou can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:  X/TwitterYouTubeSubstackYou can watch the show on YouTube

 Professor James Clark is Professor of History at the University of Exeter and has published widely on medieval monasteries and their place in the medieval world and he was historical advisor on the BBC TV series Tudor Monastery Farm. His book, The Dissolution of the Monasteries: A New History was published in 2022 to widespread acclaim.  In this conversation, James and I talk about the impact of Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries in England, its historical significance, cultural impact, and the common misconceptions surrounding it, how important the role of monasteries were in everyday life, and the gradual impact of their dissolution on local communities,  why oversimplified narratives don't appropriately convey the depth of this pivotal moment in English history, and how society, spirituality, and community identity changed. James was erudite and lucid, even without heavy preparation, lots of  His responses came from the heart as well as the head. There were several moments where his answer took me down a thought process I haven't really been down before and it's those moments that you cherish in life.Enjoy the show classmates. And don't forget to subscribe.You can also follow James and his work at:X/TwitterJames’s bookYou can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:  X/TwitterYouTubeSubstackYou can watch the show on YouTube

Carl Trueman is Professor of Biblical and Religious Studies at Grove City College in Grove City, Pennsylvania. And he is the author of several books and perhaps best known for The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and The Road to Sexual Revolution. Karl is also the author of To Change All Worlds, Critical Theory from Marx to Marcuse. In this conversation, Karl and I talk about why it is important to Unpack a topic, an idea, or a philosophy before criticizing it, why critical theory is a core area of focus for the right and a blind spot of the left. We explore its historical roots, how it evolved, and its implications for modern society as a widely used governing philosophy across various institutions, its inherent truths and contradictions, particularly regarding the nature of human relationships, human nature, and the sexual revolution; how social media primes users for a world designed by critical theorists, and how critical theory interacts with Christian and secular rationalist thought, and much, much more.You can also follow Carl and his work at:Carl Trueman’s booksFirstthings.comYou can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:  X/TwitterYouTubeSubstack

Hello, classmates, and welcome to Thinking Class. Today I'm speaking with, well, myself and you, dear listener. I'm a management consultant, podcaster, and proud Northumbrian, Englishman and Briton. I'm recording this episode to mark 50 episodes of Thinking Class and almost one year, and to reflect on what I've learned, which episodes have proven popular and why they spoke deeply to me, and what I've had to start telling myself, the deeper I have found myself getting into  the topics of this podcast. Enjoy the show classmates. And don't forget to subscribe.You can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:  X/TwitterYouTubeSubstack

Spencer Klavan is a scholar, writer, and podcaster. A graduate of Yale, he earned his doctorate in ancient Greek literature from Oxford University. Spencer is the author of the acclaimed book How to Save the West, Ancient Wisdom for Five Modern Crises, and his latest release is Light of the Mind, Light of the World: Illuminating Science through Faith. Spencer is also the editor of Gateway to the Stoics, the host of the Young Heretics podcast, and associate editor of the Claremont Review of Books. And he has written for many outlets, including The Atlantic, the Los Angeles Times, City Journal, Newsweek, The Federalist, The American Mind, and The Daily Wire. In this episode, Spencer and I explore the significance of classical literature and philosophy in contemporary society, the importance of reconnecting with the wisdom of the past, what is behind the resurgence of interest in Stoicism, why moral relativism is a miserable philosophy with miserable outcomes, and why we need to rediscover timeless truths instead, the role of education in preserving cultural heritage, the need for a shared cultural language to navigate modern complexities, the transformative power of literature in understanding human nature and morality, the impoverished architectural landscape of modern cities, and Spencer's new book, where we talk about how science and faith can coexist, and much, much more. Where to find and follow Spencer Klavan:Young Heretics PodcastX/TwitterSubstackThe SpectatorPublished bookYou can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:  X/TwitterYouTubeSubstackYou can watch the show on YouTube

Dr. Alka Sehgal-Cuthbert is the director of the organisation Don't Divide Us. She is an educator, academic, author, and campaigner who believes passionately in the essential importance of impartiality. In this episode, Alka and I think out loud about the importance of recognising our common humanity amidst a sea of divisive ideologies, the various critiques of the current anti-racism movement and why Alka emphasises the need for a more universal and humanistic approach to governance, how the role of education and public policy shape societal attitudes, what the inherent dangers of multiculturalism are and its contribution to the rise of identity politics, and why Alka advocates for a return to democratic values and the importance of patriotism in fostering social cohesion and much much more.You can also follow Alka and her work at:X/TwitterDon't Divide UsYou can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:  X/TwitterYouTubeSubstack

William Clouston is the leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the United Kingdom. In this episode, William and I talk about the reasons behind the SDP’s resurgence, his personal political journey, what the current political landscape looks like in Britain, and why it’s hard to escape the feeling of civilisational decline in the country, how cultural identity is being undermined through ideological zeal, mass immigration, and multiculturalism, Britain’s immigration challenges and the SDP’s proposed solutions for immigration control, why the ruling class’s reluctance to align with public sentiment poses risks to societal stability, why William believes the SDP is the political vehicle that represents the views of the British public, why any new generation of politicians must address the failures of the current political class, and much more. Enjoy the show classmates. And don't forget to subscribe.You can also follow William at:X/TwitterYou can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:  X/TwitterYouTubeSubstack

Glen Scrivener is an ordained Church of England minister and evangelist who preaches through writing, speaking, and online media. Glen is also the director of Speak Life, and the creator of the 3-2-1 evangelism course.In this episode, Glenn and I talk about the profound impact of Christianity on Western values, the personal journeys that lead someone to faith, and the cultural shifts that have resulted in a meaning crisis, why it is important to understand the Christian story as foundational to human rights and societal values, how the Christian narrative provides a unique protection against tyranny and offers a framework for understanding human dignity and responsibility in a rapidly changing world and much, much more.Enjoy the show Classmates and don't forget to subscribe.You can also follow Glen and his work at:YouTubeX/TwitterSpeak Life3-2-1 CourseYou can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:  X/TwitterYouTubeSubstack

Philip Pilkington is a macroeconomist and investment professional, and he's also the host of the Multipolarity Podcast. In this episode, Phil and I talk about why European nations are struggling so much economically, and why the macroeconomic environment shows that we're in for a scary ride, how the European Union and the European Central Bank are intervening in national elections, why central banks are increasingly intervening in democratic elections or political office, what is stopping the UK and European nations from re-industrialising, potential pathways to re-industrialisation, how to address labour shortages and low birth rates without giving more immigration than people can live with, and why Phil keeps changing his mind on the European Union and much, much more. Enjoy the show class mates. And don't forget to subscribe.You can also check Philip out at:X/TwitterUnherdSubstackYou can follow and subscribe to Thinking Class on:  X/TwitterYouTubeSubstack