Quillette Cetera

Shay Khatiri is one of the most clear-eyed analysts of Iran’s regime and its role in global geopolitics. Raised in the Islamic Republic before escaping to the U.S., he now serves as Vice President and Senior Fellow at the Yorktown Institute and writes The Russia–Iran File, a Substack dissecting the domestic and foreign policy strategies of both regimes. His work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, National Review, The Bulwark, Providence, and Quillette. In this episode, he joins Zoe to unpack the roots of Iran’s latest deadly protests, including the regime’s use of pellet guns and hospital raids to suppress dissent. He explains why so many Iranians are calling for foreign military intervention, what a post-regime Iran might look like, and why he believes a constitutional monarchy—led by Reza Pahlavi—offers the best hope for stability. They also discuss the role of the diaspora, the rise of underground Christianity, and why the West’s inaction may extinguish Iran’s last chance at revolution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this conversation, Zoe Booth and Adam Louis-Klein delve into the complexities of antizionism, exploring its ideological roots, the language used to propagate it, and its normalisation in contemporary society. They discuss the formation of the Movement Against Antizionism (MAAZ) and the importance of recognising antizionism as a distinct form of bigotry. The dialogue also addresses the historical context of antizionism, its evolution in academia, and the psychological warfare embedded in its rhetoric. Throughout, practical strategies are offered for countering antizionist claims—emphasising the need for clarity, courage, and a comprehensive understanding of the issue. Adam Louis-Klein is an anthropologist and PhD candidate at McGill University. His research focuses on Indigenous cosmologies in the Colombian Amazon and comparative forms of peoplehood. He is the founder of the Movement Against Antizionism (MAAZ), which challenges antizionist ideology as a distinct form of anti-Jewish hatred. His writing and advocacy explore the intersection of academic discourse, identity, and political propaganda. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Adam Louis-Klein and MAAZ 04:00 Interview begins: The Birth of MAAZ and Antizionism 09:10 Language and the Inversion of Reality 11:28 The Evolution of Antizionism 14:08 The Role of Academia in Antizionism 16:55 The Historical Context of Antizionism 19:21 Modern Antizionism and Its Global Impact 21:43 Government Responses to Antizionism 24:33 Understanding Antizionism vs. Antisemitism 27:18 The Psychological Mechanisms Behind Antizionism 29:50 The Australian Context of Antizionism 31:56 Personal Reflections on Antizionism and Academia 38:37 Indigeneity and Cultural Identity 42:22 The Complexity of Genocide Narratives 48:13 Understanding Whiteness and Cultural Concerns 52:47 Historical Atrocities and Political Violence 55:45 The Organisation of Antizionist Movements 01:04:58 The Movement Against Antizionism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chama Mechtaly, a Moroccan-American artist and policy advisor, shares her insight on Qatar’s influence in Western institutions. She discusses how Qatar funds think tanks and universities to shape discourse, suppress critical voices, and promote an Islamist agenda under the guise of democracy. Mechtaly reveals her personal experiences with censorship and explores the implications of the Abraham Accords. With reflections on cultural preservation and a hopeful vision for regional peace, she highlights the need for accountability from Qatar in reshaping its ideological ties.

Corey Walker, a D.C.-based reporter covering the Middle East, dives into the phenomenon of audience capture and its alarming links to antisemitism. He discusses how social media algorithms can push influencers toward anti-Israel narratives to engage viewers. Corey also reflects on the shift in elite institutions against Israel, the importance of Jewish creative networks, and the broader implications of victim narratives in politics. With insights on Israel's cultural resilience and the complexities of leftist alliances, the conversation is both eye-opening and thought-provoking.

Zoe Booth speaks with Gerard Holland, CEO of the Page Research Centre and a founding member of the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship. Together they explore how foreign funding is shaping Australia’s energy policy, what’s driving the rising cost of living, and why ideological commitments to renewables may be undermining the country’s economic and strategic resilience. Holland argues that Australia’s transition to green energy has been distorted by international interests, bad economics, and an aversion to politically unpopular technologies like nuclear power. Drawing on original research submitted to a federal Senate inquiry, he makes the case for a return to energy realism—and warns that unless we regain control of our policy decisions, Australia’s prosperity and security may be at risk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Robert King, psychology lecturer at University College Cork and author of Naturally Selective, studies human sexual behaviour through evolutionary lenses. He discusses the evolution and anatomy of female orgasm. He explores oxytocin, uterine contractions, female ejaculation and the clitoris. He also covers cultural variation, female–female competition, and why evolutionary ideas provoke resistance.

Journalist and former New York Post editor David Kaufman joins Quillette’s Zoe Booth to discuss his viral essay, The Art of Middle Eastern Pillow Talk, in which he recounts an unexpected romantic encounter with a Palestinian man that leads to a frank, civil conversation about Zionism and “genocide” in the aftermath of October 7th. They also explore the politics of civility and why New York politician Zohran Mamdani has become a symbol of post-October 7th populism. Along the way, Kaufman reflects on fatherhood, race, sexuality, and what it means to speak across ideological lines in an increasingly polarised age. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Quillette Podcast, host Zoe Booth speaks with behavioural scientist Dr Dani Sulikowski about the sociocultural and evolutionary drivers behind collapsing fertility rates in Western societies. Drawing on emerging research and data from her own lab, Dr Sulikowski explores how intersexual competition among women, shifting gender norms, and declining testosterone levels in men may be contributing to a wider pattern of reproductive decline. Their conversation covers the psychology of modern mating preferences, the unintended consequences of social narratives around motherhood and career, and the cultural implications of pronatalist and antenatalist ideologies. They also discuss contentious issues such as surrogacy, abortion, and assisted dying—all within the context of civilisational health and long-term population sustainability. This episode offers a thought-provoking examination of the forces shaping human behaviour, fertility, and the future of Western societies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sean Welsh is one of Quillette’s most wide-ranging contributors, having written on subjects as varied as artificial intelligence, Middle Eastern politics, and colonial history. Trained in philosophy and employed as a computer programmer, Welsh describes writing as a pursuit of curiosity rather than a career—a way to explore the questions that interest him. In this conversation, he speaks with Zoe Booth about the breadth of his intellectual interests: from the ethics of robotics and the economic realities of AI, to the contrasting colonial experiences of Australia and New Zealand. Their discussion ranges across history—including the Napoleonic Wars and the rise of British naval power—and into contemporary debates about automation, political institutions, and the contested legacies of indigenous relations. Along the way, Welsh reflects on the dangers of certainty, the value of scepticism, and why he remains an optimist about technology’s role in shaping the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Quillette Cetera podcast, host Zoe Booth is joined by Anthony Rispo—a writer, independent researcher, and co-host of The Discourse Lab podcast. Anthony holds a degree in psychology from Columbia University, where he specialised in social cognition and sociopolitical behaviour. His academic research has explored narrative, perspective-taking, and autism, and he founded Columbia’s Heterodox Academy Campus Community to promote open inquiry and viewpoint diversity. Zoe first discovered Anthony on Instagram, where he shares nuanced, carefully reasoned commentary on culture and politics. His platform offers thoughtful, accessible videos on everything from identity and political behaviour to social psychology and group dynamics. In this conversation, Zoe and Anthony reflect on their own journeys through highly ideological phases—Anthony as a gay man in activist circles, and Zoe as a self-described vegan Marxist feminist. They discuss how those beliefs affected their personal lives, particularly family relationships, and what it took to step back from those frameworks while still extending empathy to those who remain within them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices