
Subversive w/Alex Kaschuta
Subversive is a podcast by Alex Kaschuta about ideas that may not fit neatly into the Overton window and could use a nudge, or a sledgehammer. Alex chats to thinkers across the spectrum from iconoclast philosophers, rogue scientists, *real* journalists, and our true intellectual elite, Twitter anons.
If you want to support the show or my work in general, head to my Substack: www.alexkaschuta.com
or Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/aksubversive
Latest episodes

Oct 18, 2024 • 1h 9min
Garett Jones - IQ and the wealth of individuals
The complete archive of Subversive episodes, including exclusive episodes and my writing, is available on Substack.
For a bit less, you can also subscribe to the podcast sans writing on Patreon.
This is how the show is financed and grows, so I appreciate every contribution!
Please subscribe at:
https://www.alexkaschuta.com/
https://www.patreon.com/aksubversive
In this conversation, we explore the significance of national IQ over individual IQ, the impact of cultural externalities on immigration, and the disparities in income across countries. We also discuss the implications of population decline, fiscal responsibility, and the role of the US in global economics. The conversation also delves into the concept of smart fractions in innovation, the effects of cultural transplants on immigration policy, and the challenges facing democracy in the West.
Garett Jones is an economist, a professor at George Mason University, and an author. His research covers areas from macroeconomics, monetary policy, and IQ in relation to productivity, short-term business cycles, and economic development. His most recent book is The Culture Transplant: How Migrants Make the Economies They Move To a Lot Like the Ones They Left.
Chapters
00:00 The Importance of National IQ
02:46 Cultural Externalities and Immigration
06:00 Cross-Country Income Disparities
08:45 Population Decline and Economic Implications
12:06 Fiscal Sustainability and Government Spending
14:49 US Hegemony and Global Economics
18:11 Smart Fractions and Innovation
21:10 The Role of Elites in Democracy
23:59 Cultural Transplants and Immigration Policy
27:11 Democracy and Ethnic Diversity
29:57 The Influence of the EU on Eastern Europe
32:46 Leadership and Collaboration
35:56 The Future of Democracy
39:03 Recommended Thinkers and Closing Thoughts

Oct 11, 2024 • 1h 4min
Noah Carl - Immigration: Culture & Crime
The complete archive of Subversive episodes, including exclusive episodes and my writing, is available on Substack.
For a bit less, you can also subscribe to the podcast sans writing on Patreon. This is how the show is financed and grows, so I appreciate every contribution!
This is how the show is financed and grows, so I appreciate every contribution!
Please subscribe at:
https://www.alexkaschuta.com/
https://www.patreon.com/aksubversive
In this conversation, we delve into the complex issues surrounding immigration, crime rates, and social trust, focusing on Britain. We explore the misconceptions about crime rates among different ethnic groups, the nuances of immigration's economic impact, and the importance of understanding social trust dynamics. The discussion also touches on the brain drain phenomenon and the challenges of political discourse in addressing these issues.
Noah Carl is a sociologist and intelligence researcher, a writer, and co-editor-in-chief of Aporia magazine: https://www.aporiamagazine.com/
Chapters
00:00 Exploring Immigration Perspectives
05:36 Crime Rates and Misconceptions
12:41 Understanding Crime Data in Britain
17:32 Social Trust and Its Implications
28:27 The Economic Impact of Immigration
39:05 Persuasion and Political Discourse
49:47 The Brain Drain Phenomenon

Oct 4, 2024 • 1h 12min
Nina Power - Loyalty, Friendship, Truth
The complete archive of Subversive episodes, including exclusive episodes and my writing, is available on Substack.
For a bit less, you can also subscribe to the podcast sans writing on Patreon. This is how the show is financed and grows, so I appreciate every contribution!
This is how the show is financed and grows, so I appreciate every contribution!
Please subscribe at:
https://www.alexkaschuta.com/
https://www.patreon.com/aksubversive
We delve into the complexities of loyalty, friendship, and the impact of online culture on personal relationships. We explore the fragility of online interactions, the nature of cancellation, and the spiritual dimensions of identity in a digital age. The discussion also touches on the dangers of safetyism, the search for meaning in a materialistic world, and the challenges of navigating ideological friction. The chat emphasizes the importance of curiosity, open dialogue, and the need for a deeper understanding of status and hidden knowledge in contemporary society.
Nina Power is a writer and philosopher, former senior editor for Compact Magazine, and the author of “What Do Men Want? and “One Dimensional Woman.” She also writes on Substack: Nina Power The Sun Is God: New Writing by Nina Power
Chapters
00:00 Exploring the Literary Scene of the 90s
03:04 The Nature of Loyalty and Friendship
06:08 The Fragility of Online Relationships
09:10 Navigating Online Discourse and Mental Health
11:57 The Impact of Cancellation on Identity
14:49 The Spiritual Dimension of Cancellation
18:13 The Role of Status in Modern Society
21:03 The Dangers of Safetyism
23:58 The Search for Meaning in a Materialistic World
27:03 The Dynamics of Ideological Friction
30:08 The Challenge of Experience in Modern Life
32:57 The Role of Family and Tradition
36:02 The Quest for Authenticity
39:02 The Nature of Truth in the Digital Age
41:50 The Future of Ideological Movements
45:14 The Importance of Curiosity and Open Dialogue
48:05 The Influence of Hidden Knowledge
50:58 The Concept of Neo-Iconoclasm
53:50 Conclusion and Reflections on the Future

Sep 26, 2024 • 1h 36min
NonZionism - Radicalization is just the first step
The complete archive of Subversive episodes, including exclusive episodes and my writing, is available on Substack.
For a bit less, you can also subscribe to the podcast sans writing on Patreon. This is how the show is financed and grows, so I appreciate every contribution!
This is how the show is financed and grows, so I appreciate every contribution!
Please subscribe at:
https://www.alexkaschuta.com/
https://www.patreon.com/aksubversive
Our conversation explores the journey of radicalization within dissident thought, focusing on the evolution of anti-Semitism, the complexities of ideology, and the personal beliefs that shape one's identity. We reflect on our experiences and the broader implications of these ideologies in modern society. We also explore themes of spiritual independence, racial awareness, the impact of liberal ideology, personal health transformations, the dangers of low IQ societies, the role of eugenics, the complexities of anti-Semitism, and the importance of the smart fraction versus average IQ in society.
משכיל בינה is the author of NonZionism, where he’s written insightful essays on Israel, Britain, and a wide range of themes that poke at both the left and right.
Chapters
00:00 Journey Through Radicalization
06:31 The Process of Deradicalization
12:32 Ideological Reflections and Political Realities
18:02 The Nature of Political Power
22:30 Living Independently in a Regime
28:29 The Balance of Radicalization and Personal Growth
34:51 The Dangers of the Dissident Right
40:40 Understanding Anti-Semitism: A Historical Perspective
48:43 The Evolution of Anti-Semitic Ideologies
56:38 Radicalization and the Role of the Internet
01:04:40 The Holocaust: A Central Narrative in Modern Ideology
01:12:25 Race Realism and Its Implications
01:20:38 The Future of Society: Eugenics and Intelligence

Sep 12, 2024 • 1h 11min
Kryptogal - The Hidden Cost of Kids
The complete archive of Subversive episodes, including exclusive episodes and my writing, is available on Substack.
For a bit less, you can also subscribe to the podcast sans writing on Patreon. This is how the show is financed and grows, so I appreciate every contribution!
This is how the show is financed and grows, so I appreciate every contribution!
Please subscribe at:
https://www.alexkaschuta.com/
https://www.patreon.com/aksubversive
Our conversation explores the decline in birth rates and the reasons behind women choosing to have fewer children, the societal pressure on women to have children, the economic and cultural factors influencing fertility decisions, and the gender divide in the discourse on birth rates. The conversation also delves into the implications of declining birth rates for the future of the West and the challenges of balancing population growth and sustainability, the role of social media and parenting culture in shaping fertility decisions, agency, femininity, parenting, and the impact of internet culture. We also discuss the construction of femininity as opposed to masculinity.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction: Exploring the Decline in Birth Rates
03:15 The Significance of Childbirth for Women
07:00 Gender Divide in Fertility Decisions
11:27 Implications of Declining Birth Rates for the West
13:40 Misconceptions about Fertility and Gender Stereotypes
21:37 Balancing Growth and Sustainability
29:28 Parenting Culture and Social Media Influence
36:17 The Importance of Agency and the Drain of Video Games
39:39 The Construction of Femininity and the Challenges of Parenting
55:09 The Impact of Internet Culture and Generational Divides
01:08:37 Subversive Perspectives
Kryptogal (Kate, if you like) is a pseudonymous, Substack-based writer: Forbidden Closet of Mystery

Sep 5, 2024 • 52min
Losing our religion - Deep Left Analysis
The complete archive of Subversive episodes, including exclusive episodes and my writing, is available on Substack. For a bit less, you can also subscribe to the podcast sans writing on Patreon. This is how the show is financed and grows, so I appreciate every contribution!
Please subscribe at:
https://www.alexkaschuta.com/
https://www.patreon.com/aksubversive
We discuss the shifting political landscape online and the importance of information hazards to the stability of politics in the future. We also look at elite culture and the probable contenders for our future organizing principles—they don’t look great.
Deep Left Analysis is a pseudonymous writer and podcaster on Substack.
https://deepleft.substack.com/
Chapters
00:00 The Limitations of Facts and Logic
04:49 Different Interests and Motivated Reasoning
05:44 Elites and Secular Religions
18:39 The Changing Incentive Structure
19:32 The Weakening of Traditional Forms of Organization
33:00 The Role of Technology in Shaping the Future
40:57 The Convergence of Races and Elective Tribalism
46:34 The Importance of Stable Traditions
51:08 The Impact of Technology on Fashion and Culture

Aug 23, 2024 • 1h 3min
Sai Pandit - The gender wars: an Indian perspective
This is the first part of our conversation. The full episode and the complete archive of Subversive episodes, including exclusive episodes and my writing, are available on Substack.
You can also subscribe to the podcast sans writing on Patreon for a bit less.
This is how the show is financed and grows, so I appreciate every contribution!
Please subscribe at:
https://www.alexkaschuta.com/
https://www.patreon.com/aksubversive
We speak about the challenges women face in online spaces, the complexities of gender dynamics, the limitations of rigid societal scripts, the limitations of statistical analysis in understanding human behavior, and the significance of subjective experiences. Our conversation highlights the cultural differences in perspectives on female agency and the impact of different legal systems on gender dynamics in India, arranged marriages, and their potential future in the West.
We also discuss the challenges of modern dating apps and the need for a communal goal in relationships. The conversation then shifts to the topic of endocrine dysfunction and the decreasing age of puberty.
Sai Pandit is a writer on Substack at: https://saipandit.substack.com/
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Discussion of Recent Interview
00:53 Challenges Faced by Women in Online Spaces
03:09 The Limitations of Rigid Societal Scripts
09:02 Cultural Differences in Perspectives on Female Agency
14:47 The Complexity of Human Behavior and Subjective Experiences
19:08 The Impact of Legal Systems on Gender Dynamics
29:43 The Importance of Meaningful Connections and Understanding
43:40 Arranged Marriages: The Spectrum of Arrangements
53:40 The Potential Future of Arranged Marriages in the West
56:20 Challenges of Modern Dating Apps
01:01:26 Understanding the Decreasing Age of Puberty
01:10:53 The Complexity of Endocrine Dysfunction
01:19:02 Recommended Writers

Aug 8, 2024 • 60min
Eurydice - How to make marriage work
This is the first part of our conversation. The full episode and the complete archive of Subversive episodes, including exclusive episodes and my writing, are available on Substack.
You can also subscribe to the podcast sans writing on Patreon for a bit less.
This is how the show is financed and grows, so I appreciate every contribution!
Please subscribe at:
https://www.alexkaschuta.com/
https://www.patreon.com/aksubversive
Our conversation explores the challenges and complexities of modern relationships and marriages, the loss of unified narratives, the saturation of relationship advice, the importance of personal responsibility, voicing needs, and avoiding resentment in relationships. The conversation also delves into the impact of legal systems on relationships and the role of pronatalism in encouraging marriage and having children. We also address the gender dynamics and expectations in relationships, the need for strong individuals who can advocate for themselves while respecting their partner's desires, the dynamics of sex, relationships, and marriage from a gendered perspective, the challenges faced by men in forming real connections and attracting the kind of women they desire, the concept of hypergamy and how it is often misunderstood and much more.
Eurydice is a pseudonymous writer and Twitter/X poster @euridicelives. She also writes on Substack @euridicelives
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and the Challenges of Modern Relationships
02:31 The Saturated Market of Relationship Advice
09:20 Resentment and the Importance of Voicing Needs
18:44 Personal Responsibility in Marriage
22:41 The Impact of Legal Systems on Relationships
28:26 Encouraging Marriage and Having Children
32:42 Gender Dynamics and Expectations in Relationships
46:02 The Paradox of Optimizing for Sex
50:08 The Impact of Technology on Modern Relationships
57:44 The Cultural Issue of Male Worthlessness
01:02:46 The Value of Women's Sexual Desires and Investments
01:09:26 The Overlooked Qualities Women Desire
01:13:18 The Complexity of Hypergamy

Jul 26, 2024 • 55min
Erik Hoel - The Tao of having babies
In this engaging discussion, Erik Hoel, an essayist, neuroscientist, and novelist, dives into the rich world of pronatalism. He addresses how parents shape values and behaviors, emphasizing both the genetic and cultural influences that play a role in child development. The conversation tackles the complex nature vs. nurture debate while exploring the challenges of measuring personality traits. Hoel also reflects on the quest for meaning in life and how parenting reshapes priorities, delivering deep insights on family dynamics.

Jul 19, 2024 • 53min
O.W. Root - How you dress matters.
This is the first part of our conversation. The full episode and the complete archive of Subversive episodes, including exclusive episodes and my writing, are available on Substack.
You can also subscribe to the podcast sans writing on Patreon for a bit less.
This is how the show is financed and grows, so I appreciate every contribution!
Please subscribe at:
https://www.alexkaschuta.com/
/ aksubversive
We speak about how the impact of personal aesthetics on mental health and self-perception is significant, about how our convenience-oriented culture and the rise of athleisure have led to a decline in personal aesthetics and a lack of social pressure to dress well, about how men need to care about their aesthetics not only for their own well-being but also as a positive influence on their children. We also address how women play a role in influencing their partner's style, customization and tailoring, making progress, feeling good, and looking good; having kids can help shift focus away from wallowing and towards taking responsibility and finding joy in the present moment and much more.
O.W Root is a menswear expert, a Twitter poster @NecktieSalvage, and a writer on Substack at https://necktiesalvage.substack.com/
Chapters for the full conversation.
00:00 The Impact of Personal Aesthetics on Mental Health
02:25 The Power of Dressing with Intention
04:02 The Decline of Personal Aesthetics in a Convenience-Oriented Culture
05:30 The Importance of Men's Style for Self-Perception and Parenting
07:08 The Degeneration of Culture and the Loss of Personal Style
11:49 Trends, Customization, and Tailoring
14:18 Making Progress in Personal Style
43:23 The Absurdity of Normalcy in the Age of Extremes
48:28 Embracing Imperfection and Living with Direction
52:13 Overcoming the Fear of Making Mistakes
54:48 Shifting Focus from Wallowing to Taking Responsibility
01:01:39 Riding the Wave of Life and Finding Joy in the Present