UnHerd with Freddie Sayers
UnHerd
Freddie Sayers from online magazine UnHerd seeks out top scientists, writers, politicians and thinkers for in-depth interviews to try and help us work out what’s really going on. What started as an inquiry into the pandemic has broadened into a fascinating look at free speech, science, meaning and the ideas shaping our world.Due to popular demand here is a podcast version of our YouTube — available to watch, for free here or by searching ‘LockdownTV’.Enjoy! And don't forget to rate, like and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 13, 2023 • 1h 4min
Yascha Mounk: Israel to America - escaping the identity trap
Yascha Mounk explores the dominance of identity politics, biased reporting in the Israel-Hamas conflict, and the rise of identity-based movements. They discuss universalism, political divisions, and tribal instincts, as well as the role of religion, cancel culture, and the loss of trust in institutions. The chapter also delves into critical race theory, the motivations behind engaging in this form of politics, and the importance of speaking up to defend liberal values.
25 snips
Oct 11, 2023 • 34min
Special Investigation: How scientific is the ZOE app?
Investigation into the scientific validity of the ZOE app by Professor Tim Spector, the creator. It explores the use of glucose monitors and blood sample measurements, critiques the app's pricing and study limitations, discusses Tim Spector's journey and the success of the app, and examines the uncertainties and dangers of excessive monitoring devices.
12 snips
Oct 8, 2023 • 1h 8min
John Gray: Thoughts after liberalism
Philosopher John Gray discusses the erosion of freedom of thought and expression in liberal societies, the potential conflict between China and Taiwan, skepticism towards green policies, refusal of collaboration in historical events, the political situation in Russia, cancel culture in universities, and the difficulty of practicing tolerance and disagreeing well in modern society.
4 snips
Oct 5, 2023 • 36min
Yanis Varoufakis: Welcome to the age of technofeudalism
Yanis Varoufakis, former Greek Minister of Finance, discusses technofeudalism and the negative implications of cloud capital. He explores globalization and the rise of technical democracy, and shares his experience working in a video game company with a horizontal management structure.
Oct 3, 2023 • 33min
Matthew Crawford: The global war on motorists
In this podcast, they discuss the growing resistance from drivers against transportation regulations and the contentious shift happening in the automotive industry. They explore the emotional and physical connection people have with driving and the concerns about the loss of control in driverless cars. The implications of automation and tech firms in shaping future cities are also explored. They delve into the effects of convenience on our fulfillment and mental wellbeing. Lastly, they discuss the 'freedom to drive movement' and the importance of defending the right to drive any car.
Sep 29, 2023 • 24min
Michael Wolff: How Donald Trump beat Rupert Murdoch
Michael Wolff, journalist and author, discusses the declining importance of Rupert Murdoch and the changing media landscape. The podcast also explores Tucker Carlson's departure from Fox News and the potential fragmentation of Fox's conservative audience. Additionally, the likelihood of Donald Trump's return as president is analyzed, as well as the role of the liberal establishment in his rise.
Sep 25, 2023 • 34min
Climate scientist: I designed my research to sound catastrophic
Patrick Brown, a climate scientist, discusses deliberate tactics used in climate change studies to sound catastrophic. He critiques the dominant narrative, highlighting the limitations and advocating for a broader perspective. The chapter explores bias, lack of skepticism, and personal beliefs in climate change research. The debate on net zero targets and economic consequences is examined, along with the importance of reducing fuel loads in forests to minimize wildfires. Brown shares his perspective on climate change, scientific press skepticism, and belief in adaptation and technology.
Sep 19, 2023 • 27min
The Russell Brand divide: Could both sides be right?
This podcast discusses the divided opinions on allegations against Russell Brand, examining the complexities of the case, the politicization of sexual wrongdoings, and the challenges of finding common ground on social media. It also explores the use of dramatized TV documentaries for pursuing justice and raises questions about the balance between innocent until proven guilty and media impact.
28 snips
Sep 1, 2023 • 45min
Gad Saad: Postmodernism is making us miserable
Gad Saad discusses the impact of postmodernism in the Western world, including victimhood culture, decline of happiness, limits of human relationships, role of religion in happiness, importance of play, correlation between happiness and severity of Covid-19 measures, creating a happier society, and understanding eudaimonia and hedonism.
5 snips
Aug 25, 2023 • 36min
Wolfgang Münchau: Germany is in trouble
Freddie Sayers interviews Wolfgang Münchau about Germany's challenges. They discuss the rise of the AFD party, Germany's energy policies and their impact on CO2 emissions, frustrations with the government's decisions, struggles in policy, technology, and globalization, and the potential emergence of a new party on the left. Münchau proposes a pragmatic approach to international relations and emphasizes the need for a new vision in Europe post-Brexit to avoid paralysis.
