Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps

Eric runs the investment firm of the right-wing multi-billionaire Peter Thiel, the co-founder of PayPal and the first outside investor in Facebook. Yet Eric is a left-wing political dissenter. With a PhD in mathematical physics from Harvard, he’s a confounding genius. He coined the term “the intellectual dark web”. His journey is perplexing. His vision of the future is ominous. Join Josh on his journey down the Weinstein rabbit hole. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this special episode from Josh's archive, he speaks with legendary British documentarian Louis Theroux. For decades, Louis has thrust himself into strange and extreme worlds, casting a light on the fringes of the human experience. This interview took place at the time of the release of his first feature film: My Scientology Movie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bridget is a podcasting and publishing phenomenon. She and Josh discuss everything from Peruvian ayahuasca ceremonies, to Joe Rogan, to cancel culture, to the Byron Bay cult she momentarily joined. Oh, and how motherhood has made her finally appreciate Christmas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Ballard is one of Australia's most successful comedians. He may be the millennials’ most prominent, hilarious voice of fury against capitalism and boomers. Tom and Josh argue about the benefits and perils of 21st-century capitalism, free speech and liberalism.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're launching a new Uncomfortable Conversations community. Get loads more content for free! This is the most important thing you'll hear this month. Don't miss it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kat is a feminist who takes no bullshit. She created a stir with her piece “Why I Keep Getting Mistaken for a Conservative”. She and Josh discuss the challenges faced by women and the fallout of the #metoo movement. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Lindsay is one of the most controversial figures on the American right. He was permanently banned from Twitter in August, until Elon reinstated him this week. He initially gained famed debunking the social-justice left. Since then, he has become notorious for increasingly dire warnings about an authoritarian leftist takeover of culture. Is he a crank, or a genius? Josh tries to figure him out.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When you see the colour blue, is it the same as when I see the colour blue? How does your brain create an image of the world... and of yourself? Dive into the wild world of the matrix with one of the world's leading neuroscientists, Anil Seth. His bestselling book is Being You: A New Science of Consciousness.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Josh is being eviscerated on social media for spreading pro-vaccine misinformation. Did he? What did he, and we, get wrong about Covid? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you stitch together diverse immigrant societies into a common future? How do you avoid collapsing into quarrelling tribes? Yascha Mounk is an optimistic academic who understands how democracies thrive... and decay. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.