Conversations with Peter Boghossian

In a recent conversation with Naomi Riley, a senior fellow at AEI and child welfare expert, Christina Buttons and I dived into a deeply disturbing topic: the factors damaging child welfare. Riley argues that the emphasis on anti-racism has inadvertently harmed child protection efforts in the United States. Antiracist ideology has led to the wholesale corruption of social work institutions (and individual social workers), which are crucial for protecting child welfare; this has had detrimental impacts on children in various settings, from foster care to homeless encampments. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Frank Furedi, an insightful author and public intellectual, discusses his latest work, The War Against the Past. He delves into the politicization of identity and the concept of 'decivilization,' challenging long-held societal values. The conversation includes his ideological shift from the far left to conservatism, the nuances of rationality in identity politics, and the radicalization of youth influenced by cultural dynamics. Furedi emphasizes the importance of dialogue and humor as tools for understanding amid today's chaotic societal discourse.

I recently had a conversation with Eli Steele (son of the legendary author Shelby Steele), an award-winning documentary filmmaker. We discussed his incisive, engaging, and timely film, Killing America. Killing America exposes pervasive anti-Semitism in the school system, what keeps it there, and the sickeningly underwhelming responses to it. Eli’s sincerity and passion for improving America were evident throughout our conversation and indeed permeates his body of work. I highly encourage you to explore his films. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Johann Hari is a British-Swiss author and journalist, known for his books and his articles in The Independent and Huffington Post. Since 2015, his writing has primarily dealt with the war on drugs, mental illness, and decreasing attention spans. His books on these subjects include Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs, Lost Connections, and Stolen Focus. In this video, Christina Buttons, Johann Hari, and Peter Boghossian discuss Johann's new book, "Magic Pill: The Extraordinary Benefits and Disturbing Risks of the New Weight-Loss Drugs". Watch this episode on YouTube.

The discussion kicks off with contrasting reactions in the UK to recent Trump events, capturing the public's complex sentiments. Shifting gears, they analyze social media's role in modern protests and critique performative activism. The conversation dives into cultural vandalism and its repercussions on public perception. Health perceptions are dissected, highlighting the psychological factors influencing activism. Morning routines, creativity, and belief systems are explored, culminating in a fascinating look at the moral complexities shaped by media and personal anecdotes.

I traveled to Texas to meet Dr. Eithan Haim after losing a $1000 bet with Chris Rufo. Little did I know, losing a $1000 bet with Chris Rufo would lead to one of the most impactful conversations of my life with Dr. Eithan Haim, a courageous whistleblower who exposed Texas Children’s Hospital’s blatant lies regarding their transgender program for children. Watch this episode on YouTube.

I had a conversation with Alex Balekian, a congressional candidate for California's 30th congressional district. I invited his political opponent, Laura Friedman, to join me for a discussion on the show, but she initially claimed not to have received the email and later said she was too busy. As a result, I engaged in a simulated debate with ChatGPT, where it represented her perspective. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Eric Kaufmann recently authored the book "The Third Awokening: A 12-Point Plan for Rolling Back Progressive Extremism." Eric is a friend of the show and known for his data-driven, thoughtful analysis. During our conversation, Eric made a striking observation: "30% of Democrats wish the attempted assassination on Trump's life had succeeded." This statistic is deeply alarming and underscores broader societal tensions in the United States. In addition to discussing the attempted assassination of Trump, our conversation delved into sensitive topics such as race and IQ, Islam in the UK, and I even suggested that the UK might contemplate surrendering sovereignty at some point. We also touched upon the current political landscape, resulting in a spicy interview. Eric on X: https://twitter.com/epkaufm Watch this episode on YouTube.

I recently had a really interesting conversation with my dear friend Faisal Al Mutar. Faisal is from war-torn Iraq, and he’s the most American person I have ever met. He leads Ideas Beyond Borders, an organization dedicated to translating Enlightenment texts into Arabic, among other impactful initiatives. During our conversation, Faisal and I discussed the attempted assassination of Donald Trump and its implications, particularly in the context of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts. We also explored Trump's choice for a new Vice President, contrasting Vice President Harris and discussing the Democratic Party's current situation. Watch this episode on YouTube.