The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie

Nick Gillespie interviews Noam Dworman, owner of New York's Comedy Cellar, discussing free speech, comedy culture, anti-Semitism, political correctness, and the history of comedy in Greenwich Village. Dworman shares insights on censorship, the importance of diverse viewpoints, and the evolution of free speech in society, while reflecting on his podcast 'Live From the Table' and personal experiences navigating controversy in comedy clubs.

Stephen Wolfram, a high school and college dropout who created Mathematica and WolframAlpha, discusses AI with Reason's Katherine Mangu-Ward. They explore AI's predictive capabilities, impact on academia, quantum computing complexities, AI recommendations, and the possibility of faster-than-light travel. Wolfram offers insights on AI's role in society and the evolving relationship between humans and technology.

Comedy writer Rob Long discusses Hollywood's lack of originality, the struggles of being a conservative in a progressive industry, and the influence of psychedelics on his creativity. The conversation touches on faith, Jesus, psychedelic experiences, and the evolving comedy landscape.

Ford Fischer, videographer and cofounder of New2Share, discusses his decentralized video journalism project, challenges in providing unfiltered content, media bias, documenting extremism, and the implications of surveillance on police accountability. The conversation also covers the impact of CESTA FOSTA law on sex workers, journalistic challenges in the contemporary media landscape, and the potential for election violence and polarization in the future.

Psychologist Jonathan Haidt discusses the impact of smartphones on young Americans' mental health, advocating for play-based childhood over phone-based ones. The conversation delves into rising rates of anxiety and depression, the need for policies promoting resilience and independence, and the debate on childproofing the internet.

Abigail Shrier, author of Bad Therapy, criticizes the infantilizing therapeutic culture affecting Gen Z's mental health. They discuss unqualified therapists, iatrogenesis risks in child therapy, humor in facing challenges, blurred lines between trauma and everyday struggles, parental interventions, and challenging mainstream narratives on transgender issues.

Joe Lonsdale, Palantir co-founder, discusses moving to Texas, combating government overreach, his American Optimist podcast, and redefining libertarianism. Topics include fraud detection, AI benefits, and innovative policy approaches for societal issues.

Psychologist Steven Pinker discusses challenges to academic freedom at Harvard, skepticism about moral and material progress, and his stereoscopic photography. Topics include free speech, diversity in universities, governance, admissions policies, state support, human well-being, AI optimism, and the power of data and graphs.

Dan Carlin, the host of Hardcore History, discusses his upcoming live tour, updates to his book in light of COVID-19, and the value of learning historical lessons. Topics include audience engagement, cyclical nature of societies, and rethinking progress through historical context.

David Boaz, a prominent figure in the libertarian movement, discusses the core principles of libertarianism and its relation to liberalism. Topics include the nonaggression principle, wins in the movement, a potential Trump vs. Biden rematch, and the challenges faced by libertarians in modern politics.