Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps

Helen Lewis's new BBC Radio 4 show, The New Gurus, investigates why so many of us have turned away from mainstream medicine, mainstream politics and the mainstream media to embrace the power of charismatic individuals instead. Helen went viral in 2018 with her legendary interview with Jordan Peterson. She's a brilliant interrogator and a thoughtful critic of the culture wars, wokeness, gender ideology and the far right. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Josh reflects, in a somewhat heated way, on the surreal injustices of the justice system. Plus: Aussie-made shoulder-launched drone guns. And sharks in Sydney harbour. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam Harris is a best-selling writer, philosopher and neuroscientist who hosts one of the world's most influential intellectual podcasts, Making Sense. Josh wants to pin down, once and for all, Sam's feelings about his former associates in the "intellectual dark web" who've gone off the rails. They also discuss Elon, Twitter, and the best flavour of cookie.To subscribe to the premium podcast feed via substack head to: https://uncomfortableconversations.substack.com/subscribe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scott Adams is the creator of the cartoon strip Dilbert. He rose to Twitter prominence ahead of the 2016 US election where he picked Trump as the winner, praising him as a master persuader. We leave Trump aside in this episode and focus on Scott's advice on creativity and success that he details in his 2014 book - How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this last Best Of episode we have the amazing Kurt Fearnley - paralympian, media personalist and advocate, who brings an amazing perspective on the global experience of disability. Then, the show I get the most feedback on, my diatribe about gun laws. And finally, one of the world’s foremost experts on sex differences - the historian and bioethicist Alice Dreger. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Josh airs what's on his mind. Did the NFL star Damar Hamlin suffer cardiac arrest because he was vaccinated, or because he was smashed in the chest by six-foot-four, 220-pound receiver? Was the musical editor of The Simpsons, who died this week, the greatest TV composer of all time? We revisit the best-ever Simpsons songs to find out! Is there anything redeeming about seagulls? And as we learn new facts about the Buckingham Palace racism scandal, Josh finds himself confused... Is it always racist to ask where you're from? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The holiday interlude continues with our top podcast moments. Andrew Denton is a giant of Australian media. Now out of the limelight, he focuses much of his work on voluntary assisted dying advocacy. Tim Flannery - ecologist, explorer, and Australian of the Year winner brings us an amazing perspective on what it is to understand nature, and humanity’s place within it. And finally Ana Marie Cox - one of the most uncomfortable conversations of the last year. We argue about cancel culture from the left and from the right. Do we meet in the middle? Listen to find out. Sign up for free at our Substack to get the full show: https://uncomfortableconversations.substack.com/subscribe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Well what a year it has been! And as we end every year here on Uncomfortable Conversations, it’s time for me to answer your questions. What have you been noodling on in 2022? And what do I reckon about it all? It’s time to find out.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's time for a Christmas interlude, the best parts of our favourite uncomfortable conversations. Tim Urban is still probably my all-time favourite guest. The creative genius behind the blog Wait But Why brings his brain melting takes on the world, and our place within it. Clementine Ford and I have some disagreements. Neither of us pull a punch. Our chat gets to the heart of what we’re trying to do here. And Malcolm Turnbull, Australia’s 29th Prime Minister. What an opportunity it was to quiz an ex PM about his views on the current political climate, his time as leader, and the chaos that led to his eventual downfall. Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Guardian has called Rutger Bregman "the Dutch wunderkind of new ideas". He has a forward thinking, earnest approach to the small task of making the world a better place for everyone - something he's been working on this since his early 20's. This episode is taken from the #WeThePeople LIVE archive.To get the full episode go to www.uncomfortableconversations.substack.com/listen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.