This interview with Kat Timpf is free to all subscribers. To hear bonus conversations and get early access to other episodes, become a paying subscriber here. Meghan interviews Kat Timpf, Fox News analyst and co-host of Gutfeld, about her new book "I Used to Like You Until... (How Binary Thinking Divides Us)." They discuss Kat’s education and early political evolution, her frustrations with ideological tribalism, and her thoughts about red-pilled manosphere discourse regarding dating, mating, and female fertility. GUEST BIO Kat Timpf is a writer, comedian, and television personality. She’s currently the co-host of “Gutfeld!” on Fox News weeknights at 10 p.m. and a Fox News analyst. She’s also the author of the New York Times bestsellers "You Can’t Joke About That: Why Everything is Funny, Nothing is Sacred, and We’re All in This Together," and "I Used To Like You Until... (How Binary Thinking Divides Us).” Follow Kat Timpf on Twitter and Instagram. HOUSEKEEPING ✈️ We have new retreats for 2025. See where we'll be! ✏️ Learn about our upcoming Unspeakeasy School of Thought coed courses in fiction, memoir, and humor writing. 🥂 Join The Unspeakeasy, my community for freethinking women.

Journalist Jennifer Block dives into Planned Parenthood's unexpected role as a major provider of gender transition hormones for young adults. She shares a gripping story about a teenager who, driven by societal pressures, regrets her hastily undertaken medical transition. Block discusses the ethical challenges surrounding young people's autonomy and highlights the public's slow recognition of these issues. She also elucidates the need for coherence in supporting abortion rights while questioning medicalized gender transitions for minors.

Melody Wright, a housing market analyst and rising YouTube star who navigated the Great Financial Crisis, discusses the current housing affordability crisis. She reveals that while low inventory is a concern, many homes sit empty due to oversaturation in new construction. Melody highlights similarities between today's market and the 2008 crash, and critiques the media's failure to adequately cover these issues. She also shares practical advice for young buyers and uncovers surprising truths about housing market dynamics.

Moon Unit Zappa, a writer and performer from the iconic Zappa family, shares insights from her memoir 'Earth To Moon.' She reflects on the chaotic upbringing in the rock-and-roll scene and the cultural impact of her hit 'Valley Girl.' The conversation touches on family dynamics, navigating toxic relationships, and the emotional complexities of fame. Moon discusses her unique bond with her father and how unconventional parenting shaped her identity amidst artistic brilliance. She also explores the evolution of artistry in today's creative landscape.

Dr. Sunita Puri, a palliative care specialist and author, delves into the intricate dynamics of end-of-life care, particularly for younger patients facing terminal illnesses. She questions the assumption that dying at home is always ideal, revealing the challenges that often complicate this wish. Sunita discusses the ethical dilemmas encountered by healthcare providers and highlights the biases at play in treating younger patients. This engaging conversation emphasizes the importance of compassionate care that respects individual desires in the face of serious illness.

Tara Henley, a Canadian journalist and podcaster, delves into the complexities of today's chaotic media landscape. She shares insights on avoiding audience capture and the revival of J.D. Vance’s podcast themes, touching upon family dynamics and societal pressures. The conversation also explores the impact of political polarization on journalism, the challenges young men face today, and personal coping strategies for maintaining mental health amidst it all. Henley emphasizes the importance of nuanced perspectives and reconnecting with simpler joys.

Meghan, an insightful voice in the heterodox space, chats with Michael Callahan, a dynamic podcast host and award-winning director. They explore the pitfalls of audience capture and the rise of superficial marketing in the digital age. Delving into the shifting concept of 'literary citizenship,' they discuss the transition from public intellectuals to community facilitators. Meghan also shares her experiences with online criticism, reflecting on the evolution of her platform, The Unspeakeasy, and the pressing demands of authenticity in a polarized environment.

In the latest installment of Casual August, writer and educator Larissa Phillips joins the pod to respond to the August 2 interview with Vanessa Grigoriadis, who theorized that childless cat ladies were secretly happier than moms, especially moms raising young children while caring for aging parents. Larissa related to much of what Vanessa said, but she had several things to add, including her later-in-life recognition that early motherhood makes more sense than later-in-life motherhood — and, what’s more, single motherhood might not be as cool and easy as 1980s media made it out to be. A GenXer who grew up steeped in second-wave feminism, Larissa now advises her 20-something daughter to marry and start a family early, which is pretty much the opposite of what her own mom advised. In this conversation, Larissa (who was a guest on A Special Place In Hell back in March) explores how her thinking evolved, why her friends were shocked when she got pregnant at 29 (practically a teen mom!), how divorce rates in the 1970s and 80s made an entire generation wary of the nuclear family, and why she invokes Jordan Peterson when she explains to her daughter that being “high value” has a lot to do with being young. She and Meghan also wrestle with whether the hyper-professional, hyper-independent feminist ethos internalized by Gen Xers and millennials will end up being something of a blip in time in the history of civilization. Larissa also talks about joining The Unspeakeasy at its upcoming retreat in Woodstock, NY this October. GUEST BIO Larissa Phillips is the founder and director of the Volunteer Literacy Project, a NPO that teaches reading to adults using a phonics-based curriculum. She also runs an educational program on her family farm in Upstate New York. She can be found on X (@larissaphillip) and Instagram (@honeyhollowfarmstay) and Substack, where she writes about farming, animals, and life as a lapsed Progressive living in Trumpland. Want to hear the whole conversation? Upgrade your subscription here. HOUSEKEEPING ✈️ 2024 Unspeakeasy Retreats — See where we’ll be in 2024! https://bit.ly/3Qnk92n 🥂 Join The Unspeakeasy, my community for freethinking women: https://bit.ly/44dnw0v 🔥 Follow my other podcast, A Special Place in Hell: https://aspecialplace.substack.com

“While some might argue that collaboration with fascists, TERFs, and racist edgelords does not constitute endorsement of violent and anti-liberation views, we disagree. There can be no innocent collaboration with such people.” That was the official statement from Hiding Press, the small, independent poetry press that was set to publish writer Emmalea Russo’s fourth book of poetry. But when word got out that she had been “collaborating” with the wrong people, they canceled the book.  By collaborations, they meant writing for certain journals and appearing as a guest on certain podcasts. By alt-right or fascist-adjacent they were talking about magazines like Compact, a publication that, according to its mission statement, “seeks a new political center devoted to the common good.” In this conversation, Emmalea talks about the “chain of contamination” that causes panic and public disassociation with anyone even remotely associated with someone designated as “bad.” She also discusses her forthcoming novel, Vivienne, which is about a septuagenarian artist who’s canceled online over rumor and innuendo. GUEST BIO Emmalea Russo is a writer and astrologer. Her books of poetry are G, Wave Archive, Confetti, and Magenta. Recent work has appeared in Artforum, BOMB, Spike Art Magazine, and Los Angeles Review of Books. Her first novel, Vivienne, is forthcoming in September. Read her piece in Compact Magazine, Purity Policing Is Poison To Poetry. Want to hear the whole conversation? Upgrade your subscription here. HOUSEKEEPING ✈️ 2024 Unspeakeasy Retreats — See where we’ll be in 2024! https://bit.ly/3Qnk92n 🥂 Join The Unspeakeasy, my community for freethinking women:https://bit.ly/44dnw0v 🔥 Follow my other podcast, A Special Place in Hell: https://aspecialplace.substack.com

Meghan, a childless dog lady, had a whole other episode cued up for this week when her friend Vanessa Grigoriadis called her with a surprising observation. According to Vanessa, moms today are so stressed out (even miserable) that childless women are getting the last laugh. This is especially true for women in midlife who started families in their late 30s to early 40s and are now saddled with elder care for aging parents while also having school-aged children. Does she have a point? In this conversation, Meghan gloats over her utterly carefree lifestyle while Vanessa lays out what the public discourse around J.D. Vance’s “childless cat lady” comment is getting wrong. An award winning magazine journalist who has done deeply reported features on subjects like the NXIVM cult and whose countless celebrity profiles have included Madonna, Lady Gaga, and Taylor Swift, Vanessa also talks about charting a new professional path (podcasts, naturally) in an economy that’s quickly becoming oversaturated. GUEST BIO Vanessa Grigoriadis is a veteran longform journalist and a co-founder of Campside Media. She is the co-creator of the Chameleon and Fallen Angel podcasts, and hosted New York Magazine’s Tabloid series on Ivanka Trump. She is a National Magazine Award winner, and a contributing writer at The New York Times Magazine and Vanity Fair. Her book, Blurred Lines: Rethinking Sex, Power, and Consent on Campus, was published in 2017. Want to hear the whole conversation? Upgrade your subscription here. HOUSEKEEPING ✈️ 2024 Unspeakeasy Retreats — See where we’ll be in 2024! https://bit.ly/3Qnk92n 🥂 Join The Unspeakeasy, my community for freethinking women:https://bit.ly/44dnw0v 🔥 Follow my other podcast, A Special Place in Hell: https://aspecialplace.substack.com