Quillette Podcast
Quillette
The Quillette Podcast is a platform for rigorous, academic discussions rooted in common sense and free inquiry. Non-dogmatic and grounded in liberal values, the podcast serves as a beacon for thoughtful conversation on science, politics, philosophy, and culture. Quillette prides itself on intellectual honesty, avoiding ideological extremism in favor of evidence-based reasoning and progress. Hosted by leading voices in academia and journalism, past guests include evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, and journalist Douglas Murray, among others. Expect candid conversations that promote common sense and challenge anti-science and conspiratorial narratives from both the far left and right.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 25, 2022 • 29min
Rob Montz on Harvard University’s Campaign Against One of Its Most Famous (and Politically Incorrect) Black Professors
Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay speaks with documentary filmmaker Rob Montz about self-made education expert Roland G. Fryer Jr.—who bucked Harvard’s progressive party line on race and education, and then got targeted with dubious harassment claims. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 13, 2022 • 39min
Frances Widdowson on the Questions Canadians Aren't Supposed to Ask About Unmarked Graves
Former Mount Royal University professor Frances Widdowson describes the political, academic, and journalistic taboos surrounding the fate of Indigenous residential-school students in western Canada. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 5, 2022 • 31min
Shmuel Bar on the War in Ukraine, and the Failure of Western Deterrence
Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay talks to intelligence expert Shmuel Bar about why Putin bungled the war in Ukraine, why NATO didn't do enough to deter the Russians, and what happens next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 25, 2022 • 1h 31min
Sam Harris on Islam, Dropping Acid, Joe Rogan, Vaccine Pseudoscience, the Wonders of Meditation, Collaborating with Ricky Gervais, and the Myth of Free Will
Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay asks neuroscientist, philosopher, best-selling author, and celebrity podcaster Sam Harris about the key to living a fulfilling and satisfying life (and whether it‘s okay to tell your children they’re bad at sports) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 9, 2022 • 31min
Russia's Surprising Military Blunders in Ukraine: A Strategic Analysis
Royal Military College professor Scott Maloney and Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay discuss the state of the war in Ukraine, and consider what Vladimir Putin will do to salvage his widely denounced invasion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 7, 2022 • 37min
Jacob Mchangama on His New Book, "Free Speech: A History from Socrates to Social Media"
Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay speaks with Copenhagen-based think-tank scholar and podcaster Jacob Mchangama about why so many human societies have a difficult time tolerating dissent and heresy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 27, 2022 • 31min
Chris Best on Substack's Commitment to Free Speech
Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay talks to Substack's founder and CEO about empowering writers through free expression (and his company's new, foosball-table-free San Francisco offices) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 15, 2022 • 41min
Canada's 'Freedom Convoy' Protesters, in Their Own Words
Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay speaks with David Paisley and Jay VanderWier, two of the many ordinary working-class Canadians who’ve assembled in Ottawa to protest restrictive government COVID policies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 31, 2022 • 46min
Christopher J. Ferguson on Racist Orcs, Ableist Adventures, and Non-Binary Monsters: Can 'Dungeons & Dragons' Survive Wokeness?
Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay talks to psychology professor Christopher J. Ferguson about his newly published academic paper, "Are Orcs Racist? Dungeons and Dragons, Ethnocentrism, Anxiety, and the Depiction of 'Evil' Monsters" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 17, 2022 • 51min
Michael Shermer: Watching 'Scientific American' Go Woke
Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay talks to book author and Skeptic editor Michael Shermer about why scientific media, professional organizations, and academic departments are increasingly succumbing to progressive ideological fads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
