
Compact Podcast
Geoff Shullenberger, Ashley Frawley, and Matthew Schmitz discuss current events.
Latest episodes

Aug 4, 2023 • 44min
Compact Conversations: Jon Askonas
Jon Askonas joins Geoff Schullenberger to discuss his latest Compact contribution "Why Conservatism Failed."

Jul 28, 2023 • 45min
Barbie Girls in Elon's World
Twitter transitions to X, Barbie and Oppenheimer jumpstart a theater-going revolution, and DeSantis protestors thrive off of meme energy. Sohrab Ahmari, Nina Power, and Geoff Shullenberger join Matthew Schmitz.

Jul 28, 2023 • 47min
Compact Conversations: Chris Rufo
Chris Rufo joins Geoff Schullenberger to discuss his latest Compact contribution "What Conservatives See in Hungary."

Jul 21, 2023 • 36min
Out with babies, in with gay frogs
The birth rate is declining in nearly all 50 states, America's blockade against China risks provoking war, and pollution is propelling the boom of gay frogs. Sohrab Ahmari, Nina Power, and Geoff Shullenberger join Matthew Schmitz.

Jul 19, 2023 • 30min
NATO and DeSantis and Populism, Oh My!
NATO welcomes Sweden as a member while Ukraine remains on the fringe and the DeSantis campaign continues to sputter out. The editors discuss the use of identity politics as a smoke screen for establishment figures on both the right and the left as they avoid class divisions and rising populist sentiments. Sohrab Ahmari and Nina Power join Geoff Shullenberger.

Jul 8, 2023 • 43min
Race, Rage, and Riots
The Supreme Court pushes back on the "diversocracy" of Affirmative Action, and COMPACT editor Sohrab Ahmari breaks down his article pushing back against the "solution" of meritocracy. And as riots rage on in France, the editors ponder whether Houellebecq's Submission is more than a work of fiction. Sohrab Ahmari, Nina Power, and Geoff Shullenberger join Matthew Schmitz.

Jun 28, 2023 • 54min
Compact Live: Can the Arts Be Saved?
This is Compact's first-ever live podcast at Icarus Fest in Rutherford, NJ. Where does art thrive, what are the consequences of legibility, and can the arts be saved? Matthew Gasda, Valerie Stivers, Adam Lehrer, Emmalea Russo join Geoff Shullenberger.

Jun 23, 2023 • 30min
Sinking the Enemy
RFK Jr. announces his candidacy, the Ukrainian counteroffensive slowly trudges on, and the Titan submersible seizes the public’s attention. Nina Power and Geoff Shullenberger join Matthew Schmitz.

Jun 14, 2023 • 40min
The Indictment Strikes Back
Trump is indicted again, Britain's NHS bans puberty blockers for minors, and Elizabeth Gilbert's new book is pulled for being set in Russia. Sohrab Ahmari, Nina Power, and Geoff Shullenberger join Matthew Schmitz.

Jun 9, 2023 • 39min
Phones and Whistles
Geoff Shullenberger and Nina Power discuss Prince Harry's phone hacking suit and the UFO whistleblower.