Conversations with Peter Boghossian

Eliah Overbey is an Assistant Professor of Bioastronautics at the University of Austin. (She also co-founded the Space Omics and Medical Atlas, a biobank that's generated over 90% of publicly available astronaut omics data, and integrating samples from missions like Inspiration4, NASA's Twins Study, and JAXA projects. She specializes in studying genomic and molecular changes in astronaut health during spaceflight. I had the opportunity to ask every question I've ever had about astronaut health, and then some more on top of those! Watch this episode on YouTube and read the accompanying Substack post. Follow Peter Boghossian

I love science fiction (fantasy's a distant second), but reading fiction always gnaws at me with guilt. That changed after talking with Clay Greene, Assistant Professor of Literature at the University of Austin (UATX). Clay dismantled my doubts, proving literature is far more than an escape. It is ammunition for the War. By helping me reflect on some of my favorites, Joe Haldeman's The Forever War and Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Clay changed my view. Fiction tackles civilizational woes directly, and it is one of the many things worth fighting and dying for. Thanks to our conversation, I'm dusting off my sci-fi stack. Watch this episode on YouTube and read the accompanying Substack post. Follow Peter Boghossian

In this lively discussion, James Klug, a street-interviewer and content creator known for his thought-provoking on-the-ground videos, tackles the complexities of immigration and ideological inconsistencies. He critiques the concept of 'suicidal empathy' for illegal immigrants, emphasizing the risks it poses to public safety. James explains how language shapes perceptions of immigration and the need for clarity between legal and illegal contexts. Their conversation also delves into the importance of open dialogue in addressing polarized views and the implications of immigration policy on society.

Carlos Carvalho, President of the University of Austin (UATX), recently told me, "UATX is Navy Seals training for the mind". It's no surprise, then, that when I ask 19-year-old UATX student Merrick Meardon difficult philosophical questions, he was more than capable of sustaining a high level of discourse about concepts of "abiding significance". (Hat tip to the late philosopher Dan Dennett who popularized this phrase.) Merrick and I didn't know what we'd talk about when we sat down together, but we both knew the unspoken assumptions: You will be held to task for your ideas; our conversation will likely not be intellectually easy; if I detect a mistake in your reasoning you'll know about it, and I expect the same courtesy from you; there are no limits on the content or how deep the conversation will go. Merrick attends the University of Austin, and that's the normative expectation. Watch this episode on YouTube and read the accompanying Substack post. Follow Peter Boghossian

Young people are having less sex. There are a lot of speculations as to why, e.g., digital distractions, increasing mental health issues, delayed independence and increased economic pressure, rising autism rates, changing cultural norms, etc., but ultimately, we don't really know why. Helping me unpack these issues is none other than Rikki Schlott, best-selling author, New York Post columnist, and friend of the show. Rikki is writing her next book about sex and dating, and I found it fascinating to learn about how sexual and dating norms were shifting. Watch this episode on YouTube and read the accompanying Substack post. Follow Peter Boghossian

Glen Weyl is an economist, researcher, and social technologist known for his work on political economy, technology, and democratic innovations. In this conversation, we talk about religion, tech, AI, and more. Watch this episode on YouTube and read the accompanying Substack post. Follow Peter Boghossian

Frances Widdowson is a former professor at Mount Royal University in Calgary. She was attacked by indigenous activists during a Spectrum Street Epistemology session at the University of Victoria in British Columbia. She tells her story in this episode of Conversations with Peter Boghossian. Watch this episode on YouTube. Follow Peter Boghossian

Should you fuck your first cousin? This most idiotic of questions now directly confronts us at scale. Instead of talking about myriads of other problems society faces, we are reduced to have a conversation about inbreeding. Why? Because this is standard practice among millions of people immigrating to Western countries. Dr. Colin Wright and I discuss inbreeding and its prevalence in different societies. Dr. Colin Wright is an evolutionary biologist and CEO/Editor-in-Chief of Reality's Last Stand. Watch this episode on YouTube and read the accompanying Substack post. Follow Peter Boghossian

Marcie Hume, a documentary filmmaker, shares her experience capturing Corey Feldman’s tumultuous journey in her film, following him and his 'angels' on tour. She discusses the complexities of fame, revealing how it shaped Corey's ambitions and behavior. The conversation delves into the cult-like dynamics surrounding him, the impact of childhood stardom, and the blurred lines between fame and art. Marcie also reflects on the human cost of public recognition and what she hopes audiences will glean from Corey's story.

Salih Hudayar, a politician and advocate for Uyghur independence, sheds light on the harrowing plight of the Uyghur people in China. He delves into the history of ethnic conflict, detailing mass internment and human rights abuses. The discussion touches on the geopolitical ramifications of Uyghur oppression and the silence from the global community. Hudayar critiques both the left's inaction and the Chinese Communist Party's tactics to suppress dissent. He emphasizes the urgent need for awareness and accountability in the fight for Uyghur sovereignty.