The Unspeakable Podcast

Katherine Brodsky, cultural critic committed to fighting censorship and groupthink, discusses her new book 'No Apologies' and shares interviews with people who were canceled. Topics include the misapplications of cancel culture, toxic online communities, and dynamics of women in the culture war.

Seth Kaplan discusses the impact of social fabric on American neighborhoods, exploring poverty alleviation initiatives, the causes of political unrest on the West Coast, and what he looked for in a neighborhood when moving his family. He also delves into the consequences of broken relationships, place-based inequality, and the pros and cons of gentrification.

Bernard Avishai and Ezzedine Fishere, Dartmouth professors teaching a joint course on Israeli/Palestinian politics, discuss their teaching approach, promoting dialogue, and understanding. They reflect on the challenges of discussing the conflict in the classroom, the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the importance of academic freedom. They also touch on issues of alleged anti-Semitism in Middle Eastern studies classes and the erosion of values in society.

In a last-minute, new year’s special, Unspeakable regular ChayaLeah Sufrin stops by the pod to report on her recent trip to Israel with her family. Even though she’s been to Israel countless times, this trip was different in both expected and unexpected ways. ChayaLeah talks about the desperation of the families of hostages, the morale of Israeli soldiers, what Israelis think about America these days, and about visiting the site of the Supernovo Music Festival. She also explains (sort of) how the Iron Dome defense system works. Spoiler: it’s not Jewish space lasers. She also recounts a recent family trip to Kansas and reflects on how warmly her Orthodox family was greeted by locals. GUEST BIO ChayaLeah Sufrin is the co-host, with Yael Bar-tur, of the podcast Ask A Jew and Executive Director at the Hillel at California State University, Long Beach. 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. Want to hear the whole conversation? Upgrade your subscription here. HOUSEKEEPING ✈️ 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.

Therapist Sasha Ayad discusses youth gender medicine, why medical protocols have changed in Europe, struggles faced by kids with gender dysphoria, and how parents can support their kids while setting limits.

Author Alexandra Hudson discusses her book 'The Soul of Civility' and the importance of civility in healing society. She shares her mother's career as an etiquette expert and explores the difference between civility and politeness. The speakers discuss respectability politics and the divide between liberal and progressive views.

✌️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.