The Unspeakable Podcast

✌️This is just a free preview. Upgrade your subscription if you want to hear the full conversation: https://bit.ly/3LgpZ3A This week, Wall Street Journal Erich Schwartzel joins Meghan for a conversation about his December 2 article about social media super-influencers Rachel and Dave Hollis. After building a multi-million by branding their own happiness and authenticity, tragedy struck when their marriage ended in bitter divorce and Dave died suddenly of a substance overdose. Erich talks about his months of research into the story and reflects on why so many people want to be influencers — and why even more people want to be influenced. You can upgrade your subscription here: https://bit.ly/3LgpZ3A RELEVANT LINKS “Behind the Tragic, Instagram-Perfect Life of an Ex-Disney Executive” by Schwartzel for The Wall Street Journal (🔒): https://on.wsj.com/484qarW ————————— GUEST BIO Erich Schwartzel, a film industry reporter at The Wall Street Journal's Los Angeles bureau, wrote “Red Carpet: Hollywood, China, and the Global Battle for Cultural Supremacy.” Published in February 2022, the book explores China's growing influence on the American entertainment industry. It received accolades from New York Times, Foreign Affairs, and Esquire. Prior to joining the Journal, Schwartzel reported on energy for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. His journalism career began at a local paper in his hometown, Latrobe, Penn. ————————— HOUSEKEEPING ✏️ Apply for Meghan’s co-ed Personal Essay and Memoir class: https://bit.ly/3u9KBoF ✈️ 2024 Unspeakeasy Retreats: 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: aspecialplace.substack.com

Pamela Paul, NY Times columnist, discusses problematic opinions, book reviewing, publishing, feeling French, and more. They explore the importance of diverse voices in book reviews and the challenges of finding reliable thinkers. They also talk about living abroad, frustration with open-mindedness, and the value of reading opposing viewpoints. Additionally, they discuss the financial challenges of living in Manhattan, the future of publishing, and their writing processes.

This week, Andrew Sullivan joins The Unspeakable to discuss the evolution of LGBTQ rights and debates. He and Meghan explore how the trans rights movement intersects (and sometimes conflicts) with the goals Sullivan advocated for gay men like himself in the 80s/90s, such as marriage equality. They also discuss his views on the physical realities of transitioning and how the language surrounding “trans kids” and “conversion therapy” are being co-opted in potentially dangerous ways Andrew and Meghan also revisit messages from the AIDS crisis that inaccurately claimed everyone was at equal risk. Despite criticism, Andrew believes that moderation and reason will ultimately triumph over the impassioned, ideological discourse surrounding gender identity and sexual orientation. GUEST BIO Andrew Sullivan is a political commentator, a former editor of The New Republic, and the author or editor of six books. You can find his Weekly Dish newsletter here. 📰 Meghan’s 2012 Believer article about her 1996 New York Time Magazine article about HIV/AIDS public health messaging. Want to hear the whole conversation? Upgrade your subscription here. HOUSEKEEPING ✏️ Apply for Meghan’s co-ed Personal Essay and Memoir class. ✈️ Unspeakeasy Retreats: See where we’re going to be in 2024! 🥂 Join The Unspeakeasy, my community for freethinking women. 🔥 Follow my other podcast, A Special Place in Hell.

Eli Lake, national security correspondent with extensive knowledge on Israel/Palestine conflict, talks about activism, illiterate responses to Israel's attack on Gaza, irony of demanding safe spaces while condoning violence against Jews, 'decolonization framework', and how anti-Semitic rhetoric is discrediting the social justice left.

Rob Long discusses the Hollywood writers' strike, the mistakes of streaming services like Netflix, the success of 'Sound of Freedom', and the decline of quality talent in TV writers' rooms.

Writer Ben Appel discusses anti-Semitism on college campuses, focusing on his experiences at Columbia University. He explores the culture of self-censorship and fear, the influence of professors on students' views of the Israel-Palestine conflict, and the challenges Jewish students face in expressing their thoughts. The podcast also touches on the connection between gay men and gender identity ideology.

Dr. Andrew Hartz, clinical psychologist and professor of clinic, discusses the politicization of therapy and the lack of support for certain populations. They explore the diverse demographics of therapists and the need for a therapist open to addressing complex issues. The chapter also examines gender roles in therapy and the drawbacks of using online therapy platforms.

Ethan Strauss, popular sports newsletter writer, discusses how sports media has lost touch with its core audience and been captured by elite media. They explore the difference between men's and women's sports in business and marketing, and who is driving the voice of sports institutions. They also touch upon the declining popularity of sports among young people and the impact of progressive messaging. In addition, they talk about the contradictory desire of journalists to be counterculture and mainstream, and the lack of trust and meaningful conversation within sports media.

Yascha Mounk discusses how niche views about race, sexual orientation, and gender identity went from marginal to mainstream. He explores the origins of wokeness, the impact of Tumblr on identity exploration, and the controversy surrounding the Harper's letter. Mounk also highlights the importance of free speech in empowering marginalized groups and shares his experiences navigating identity issues in the classroom.

The ladies from Ask A Jew are back for their biannual visit. This time for the Jewish New Year! In this episode, we talk about the meaning of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and (since we apparently have to go over it again) why Orthodox Jews have to get their cars detailed before Passover. (It’s true.) We also talk about mikvehs. Because you know you were wondering. If you only ever listen to one conversation about mikvehs, let it be this one. Most importantly, we revisit our evergreen topic: the world’s hottest dictators, despots and garden-variety world leaders. Who was hotter? Stalin or Gadaffi? Is Bibi Netanyahu more your type? Or George H.W. Bush? In the bonus, I do a solocast where I answer AMA questions and share more of my existential crisis about how to pronounce my last name. Paying subscribers who have questions for me can put them in the comments. Guest Bio The Ask a Jew podcast is where Yael Bar Tur, a secular Israeli living in New York, and ChayaLeah Sufrin, a Hasidic mother in Los Angeles, discuss everything from Torah to Tinder, no topics are off-limits. Yael Bar Tur is a digital communications consultant with over 15 years of experience in social media, government, law enforcement and crisis communications. She served as the Director of Social Media and Digital Strategy for the New York City Police Department (NYPD). Born and raised in Israel, Yael served in the Israeli Army as a foreign press liaison in the height of two wars, as well as volunteering for reserve duty at the Israeli field hospital in Haiti immediately following the 2010 earthquake.  She holds a Master's Degree from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Yael lives in NYC where she has been granted lifetime approval to pet all police K9s. ChayaLeah Sufrin is the Executive Director at Beach Hillel. Prior to Hillel, she spent 15 years teaching high school Jewish history and was the Education Director of Shul by the Shore. ChayaLeah has been married to her husband Boruch for 18 years and together they have 4 sons. Jewish education and building community are ChayaLeah’s two main passions - she also loves the New England Patriots. She was recently named one of Hadassah's 18 American Zionist Women You Should Know. HOUSEKEEPING 🔥 Follow my other podcast, A Special Place in Hell. 🥂 Join The Unspeakeasy, my community for freethinking women. 🎉 Can’t make it to the one-day retreat on September 30th in Denver? Join us for a co-ed party that same evening! 🧖‍♀️ Join me at our sanity/real spa retreat in the Poconos with guest speaker Kat Rosenfield.