The Dissidents

In this week’s podcast, Jennifer Richmond sits down with Dmitri Shufutinsky’s to discuss his latest article for White Rose Magazine, The Woke Right Keeps the Pendulum Swinging. In his article Shufutinsky argues that a faction he terms the "Woke Right" has emerged within conservative movements, mirroring the identity politics and grievance-based ideology of the progressive left while simply reversing the targets and victims.We discuss key figures like Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, Joe Rogan, and Jackson Hinkle as representatives of this movement. Shufutinsky contends that rather than rejecting woke ideology entirely, they've adopted its methods while positioning straight, Christian white men as the new victim class. This manifests through historical revisionism (including Holocaust revisionism), anti-Semitism disguised as "just asking questions," and the weaponization of Christian slogans like "Christ is King" for tribal signaling.In foreign policy, Shufutinsky argues the Woke Right paradoxically supports America's adversaries, particularly Russia and Iran, while opposing support for Ukraine and Israel. He finds it particularly troubling that supposed conservatives would back Putin's Russia despite its low church attendance, high abortion rates, and authoritarian nature that contradicts traditional conservative values. He also emphasizes that the idea of America First, shouldn’t be America Only, which seems to be part of the messaging behind this movement’s foreign policy initiatives.Shufutinsky warns that this movement undermines genuine conservative goals by providing ammunition to the progressive left, potentially causing the political pendulum to swing back even harder toward woke leftism. Instead of achieving the "common sense" governance many voters sought in 2024, the Woke Right perpetuates the same divisive dynamics it claims to oppose.Shufutinsky concludes by calling for a more responsible conservative approach that maintains strong alliances, supports genuine diversity and merit, and avoids both extremes of woke ideology to preserve American strength and Western civilization. Podcast NotesThe Woke Right Keeps the Pendulum Swinging, Dmitri Shufutinky: https://whiterosemagazine.com/a-woke-right-keeps-the-pendulum-swinging/Nation of Victims, Vivek Ramaswamy: https://www.amazon.com/Nation-Victims-Identity-Politics-Excellence-ebook/dp/B09PLHGNHD

Welcome to the latest release from the Free Speech Forward podcast! In this episode, Chris and Joia meet with Angel Eduardo, an artist, writer, and advocate of Free Speech who works with FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression). This episode delves into critical free speech arguments, such as the Weimar Fallacy and consideration of 2nd Order consequences, exploring why free speech is the “eternally radical idea”. We also explore why free speech is so crucial for dissidents and those with minority views.  Check out more of Angel’s work with FIRE at: https://www.thefire.org/about-us/our-team/angel-eduardo 

In this engaging discussion, Monica Harris, Executive Director of FAIR, delves into the organization's civil rights complaint against mandated ideological conformity. Gabriel Nadales, a legal expert, provides insights on accreditation standards affecting viewpoint diversity. Former grad student Susanna Alexander shares her harrowing experiences of ideological pressure in counseling education. Together, they explore the implications for various professional fields, advocating for restoring intellectual freedom and promoting civil discourse in education.

In this retrospective episode of the Free Speech Forward podcast, co-hosts Chris and Joia reflect on their first year of discussions surrounding free speech. They highlight key themes such as the importance of education, the challenges of speaking out, and the diversity of perspectives among their guests. The conversation emphasizes the value of community and collaboration in advocating for free speech and hints at future plans for the podcast, including a new upcoming complementary podcast focused on free markets. Don’t forget to subscribe to our Substack: https://philosophicalliberal.substack.com/

Podcast descriptionIn this week's episode clinical psychologist Patrick Lockwood joins Elizabeth for a discussion about why, despite all evidence to the contrary, beliefs in learning styles remain strong.  We talk about the psychological and institutional forces that promote the myth including the countless journal articles, opinion pieces and websites that make fuzzy suggestions about neuroscience and other vague claims few individual learners and teachers are capable of evaluating for accuracy.  Our desires for uniqueness, to blame forces outside our control when we perform at or below average, confirmation biases, and the ubiquitousness of the myth are just a few of the reasons we can perhaps forgive individuals for succumbing to the learning style grift.  More egregious is that institutions continue to cling to them.  Learning styles are actively taught to future teachers in schools of education, to students of all ages in K-12 classrooms, in tutoring centers, and of course, touted in online forums.  Patrick and Elizabeth share literature that debunks learning styles and  take the listener on a brief tour of learning habits and strategies that are supported by research.Podcast notesBrown SBRE (2023) The persistence of matching teaching and learning styles: A review of the ubiquity of this neuromyth, predictors of its endorsement, and recommendations to end it. Front. Educ. 8:1147498.  Link: Brown Myth of Learning StylesLink to University of Michigan Teaching and Technology summary: Myth of Learning StylesRohrer, D., & Pashler, H. (2012). Learning styles: Where’s the evidence? Medical Education, 46, 34-35: Where's the Evidence?Dr. Lockwood has worked for non-profits, treatment centers, has trained with experts in the field of addiction treatment, and worked at every level of the mental health and addiction treatment industry for the past 15 years. He has a podcast on YouTube about topics related to mental health, wellness, psychology, and neuroscience.  He is the author of “The Fear Problem,” a book integrating the neuroscience and evolutionary psychology of our fear process to explain why we get triggered by politics and other “hot topics.” Currently Dr. Lockwood teaches at California Lutheran University and is the COO of Oak Forest Recovery Center. Patrick's website: https://www.lockwoodconsultingsolutions.com/Patrick's youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DrPatrickLockwood His Twitter handle is @DoctorLockwood

In 2022 Counterweight, the organization that Helen Pluckrose founded and that was absorbed into the Institute for Liberal Values had a virtual conference on Alternatives to Diversity and Inclusion. Starting in 2025, we will be rolling out one talk a month that was presented at the conference. We sit down with the original presenters throughout 2025 to see what has changed since 2022. With Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives seemingly on the chopping block, we are curious to hear what our original participants are witnessing and experiencing on the ground. Is DEI really dead or just in remission? Are there healthy alternatives to DEI that we should consider, or do we throw the baby out with the bathwater and wipe our hands clean? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments.This month Jennifer Richmond interviews Brandy Shufutinsky.  In the update to her original talk on Liberal Approaches to Diversity and Inclusion, where she highlighted anti-black racism and antisemitism and the ties between the two, we explore what has changed since 2022, especially in light of the Oct 7 2023 massacre of Israeli citizens and the current conversations around Israel and Palestine. The “Global Intifada” is a strange marriage of Islamist and left-wing extremism, often called the red-green coalition. While it is often easy to spot extreme right-wing antisemitism, the red-green version of antisemitism is often unacknowledged. This does not result in the proliferation of diversity and inclusion but rather an erasure of history and the erosion of common values.Podcast Notes:A Woke Right Keeps the Pendulum Swinging, Dmitri Shufutinsky https://whiterosemagazine.com/a-woke-right-keeps-the-pendulum-swinging/Whiteshift: Populism, Immigration and the Future of White Minorities, Eric Kaufmann https://www.amazon.com/Whiteshift-Populism-Immigration-Future-Majorities/dp/1468316974Vatican nativity scene showing baby Jesus on a keffiyeh removed after backlash https://www.timesofisrael.com/vatican-nativity-scene-showing-baby-jesus-on-a-keffiyeh-removed-after-backlash/

In this episode of the Free Speech Forward podcast, Chris and Joia engage with Arnold Cantú, a clinical social worker and psychotherapist, discussing the critical role of free speech in academia and education. Arnold shares his personal experiences as a Colorado State University doctoral student, where he faced challenges to his beliefs and values from faculty. The conversation explores the importance of moral courage, the need for open dialogue in educational settings, and the impact of these experiences on Arnold's professional practice in mental health. Discover more about Arnold’s academic work at:  https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Arnoldo-Cantu

In this week's episode Winkfield Twyman Jr. joins Elizabeth to explore our lay view of the pros and cons of artificial intelligence. Our discussion is guided by several reports, popular press articles, and opinion pieces that expose different types of challenges and perspectives. We start with education. teaching, and learning. We include concerns about the effects of AI on information literacy, diversity of thought, and how it has impacted the societal and personal value placed on knowledge. We talk about AI risks and opportunities in research, medicine, psychology, and relationships. Wink marvels at the ability to personalize most any intervention to get targeted AI help with tasks both big and small. Unsurprisingly, he focuses on the positive, while Elizabeth reminds us of the downsides. Podcast notes Everyone is Cheating Their Way Through CollegeThe VeldtAI is AmazingThe (artificial intelligence) therapist can see you nowAlien Intelligence or How We All Became Captain DunselHow Humans Respond When the Ground Shifts Beneath ThemMeet the Women with AI Boyfriends

In this week's Dissident's podcast, James & Chris explore some of the legal, political, and moral arguments that undercut the basis for the modern welfare-regulatory state - which sees coercive powers concentrated in a central government body that intervenes into most human affairs, often in illiberal ways that pit one interest group against another or prioritize the interests of those in power. They show why it can only ever be that way under the current paradigm, regardless of who is in charge. With a particular focus on welfare & IP regimes, they go on to discuss & debate some novel alternatives that could take the place of the current concentrated power structure while yielding safer & more productive outcomes for all citizens. Such liberal alternatives can also still solve many of the human challenges that the prevailing coercive systems seek to remedy.

"Because of lack of freedom of speech, no one was able to tell the truth.” Welcome back – this is the Free Speech Forward podcast. In today’s show, host Chris Bush interviews Yukong Mike Zhao, a prominent advocate for free speech and equal education rights. Mike shares his personal journey from growing up in communist China to becoming a vocal opponent of censorship and political correctness in America. He discusses the importance of free speech, drawing lessons from history, particularly the Cultural Revolution, and emphasizes the need for education about the dangers of authoritarian regimes. Mike also shares insights on organizing for equal education rights, including the importance of public support and the necessity of perseverance in the work of advocacy.  Learn more about Mike’s work and the Asian American Coalition for Education at: https://asianamericanforeducation.org/en/about/leadship/