The Dissidents

In the Hold my Drink — navigating culture with a chaser of civility, and Counterweight podcast, Episode 55, we speak with Jessie Mannisto, the Editor of Third Factor Magazine. Jessie’s passion is exploring Dabrowski’s Theory of Positive Disintegration. TPD sees psychological tension or disintegration as necessary for growth, the development of courage, and ultimately, to realizing our fullest potential. Becoming positively maladjusted can be painful but the resulting authenticity and agency, so desperately needed in our world, are important not only for us individually but also as a community. All discussed with a chaser of civility, of course, and just another pinot noir. To read a recap of the conversation and additional thoughts, and to see what each of us is reading, visit our post Positive Disintegration on the Hold my Drink website. You can also watch the conversation on the Hold my Drink YouTube page.

In the Hold my Drink — navigating culture with a chaser of civility, and Counterweight podcast, Episode 54, we speak with Dustin Clark & Jeremy Story, two fathers arrested for disrupting a school board meeting in Round Rock, Texas. Headlines made them out as anti-mask mandate marauders and the face of “domestic terrorism”, but the truth is stranger than this fiction. Their stories unmask the internal machinations of a school board that was unprepared for public and parent scrutiny after COVID forced school and school board transparency, which led to a revival of civic engagement and participation. All discussed with a chaser of civility, of course, and a round of water. To read a recap of the conversation and additional thoughts, and for podcast resources, visit our post Unmasking "Domestic Terrorism" on the Hold my Drink website. You can also watch the conversation on the Hold my Drink YouTube page.

In the first episode of season two of Hold my Drink — navigating culture with a chaser of civility, and Counterweight podcast, Episode 53, we speak with Andrew Gutmann & Paul Rossi on the Long March of Marxism and its application through Critical Theory in our institutions, with its many permutations. Andrew & Paul have been on the battlefront of a social revolution that has trickled down from theory to practice, from university to elementary school, which threatens to erupt into an all-out culture war. All discussed with a chaser of civility, of course, and a hard kombucha. To read a recap of the conversation and additional thoughts, and for podcast resources, visit our post Marxism 4.0 on the Hold my Drink website. You can also watch the conversation on the Hold my Drink YouTube page.

In the final episode of Season One of Hold my Drink — navigating culture with a chaser of civility, and Counterweight podcast, Episode 52, we speak with Zander Keig and Debbie Hayton. Zander (FTM) and Debbie (MTF) share with us their different experiences with transition, the socialization of different genders, their thoughts on the current debate on puberty blockers, questions on gender dysphoria, autogynephilia and their fierce commitment to living their authentic lives. All with a chaser of civility, of course, and a lot of coffee. To read a recap of the conversation and additional thoughts, and for podcast resources, visit our post Rebels & Counterculture in the Trans Community on the Hold my Drink website. You can also watch the conversation on the Hold my Drink YouTube page.

In the Hold my Drink — navigating culture with a chaser of civility, and Counterweight podcast, Episode 51, we speak with Jason Miller, host of Native Liberty. Jason hails from the Hopi and Miwok tribes and has spent much of his professional career working within tribal communities. We discuss his issues with tribal injustices and his adherence to classical liberal values to realize a Native Liberty that benefits both tribal communities and civilization in general To read a recap of the conversation and additional thoughts, and for podcast resources, visit our post Native Liberty & the Nirvana Fallacy on the Hold my Drink website. You can also watch the conversation on the Hold my Drink YouTube page.

In the Hold my Drink — navigating culture with a chaser of civility, and Counterweight podcast, Episode 50, we speak with Steven Welliever a former STEM teacher, now construction worker, who has dedicated his time to revealing the problems with critical theory in K-12 education. Steve shares with us tips and insights that help parents reveal hidden ideological agendas, become their own educational investigators, and combat critical theory and Marxist indoctrination in the classroom. All discussed with a chaser of civility, of course, and a homemade ginger beer and a Bloody Mary. To read a recap of the conversation and additional thoughts, and for podcast resources, visit our post Combatting Critical Theory in the Classroom on the Hold my Drink website. You can also watch the conversation on the Hold my Drink YouTube page.

In the Hold my Drink — navigating culture with a chaser of civility, and Counterweight podcast, Episode 49, we speak with Naama Kates, host of the Incel Podcast. Naama gives insight into the counter-cultural movement of incels and black pill ideology, unveiling both uncomfortable truths and dispelling shadowy myths. We also explore the current social justice narrative of oppressor and oppressed and the mismatch this creates for incels. All discussed with a chaser of civility, of course, a mango smoothie and a shot of bourbon. To read a recap of the conversation and additional thoughts, and to see what we are each reading, visit our post Understanding Black Pill Ideology on the Hold my Drink website. You can also watch the conversation on the Hold my Drink YouTube page.

In the Hold my Drink — navigating culture with a chaser of civility, and Counterweight podcast, Episode 48, we speak with Aaron Sibarium. Aaron first addressed our country’s growing polarization while covering issues such as “Halloweengate” at Yale. He now carries on what he started as a journalist for the Washington Free Beacon exposing the inner machinations of ideologues in our institutions. He shares with us his investigations on both private school and law school accreditation practices and proposals that jeopardize the free market of ideas, not to mention the rule of law, and the latest ideological policy agenda of the CDC. All discussed with a chaser of civility, of course, and a shot of Fireball whiskey and memories of cold sake. To read a recap of the conversation and additional thoughts, and to see what we are each reading, visit our post Polarization & Accreditation on the Hold my Drink website. You can also watch the conversation on the Hold my Drink YouTube page.

In the Hold my Drink — navigating culture with a chaser of civility, and Counterweight podcast, Episode 47, we speak with Bonnie Snyder, Director of High School Programs for the Foundation of Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) and author of the newly released book, Undoctrinate. Bonnie shares with us stories of ideological indoctrination that has become mainstream in K-12 education, and her efforts at FIRE and through her research to provide alternative solutions, bringing back robust discourse and constructive disagreement into the classroom. All discussed with a chaser of civility, of course, and a Shotgun spiked sparkling water. To read a recap of the conversation and additional thoughts, and to see what we are each reading, visit our post Undoctrinating the Classroom on the Hold my Drink website. You can also watch the conversation on the Hold my Drink YouTube page.

In the Hold my Drink — navigating culture with a chaser of civility, and Counterweight podcast, Episode 46, we speak with the Jon O’Brien, the first civil rights attorney to take on Critical Race Theory in the classroom. He outlines both the logistical and financial challenges of his groundbreaking lawsuit with Gabrielle Clark, as well as his first-hand impressions of those who are now leading the charge. Those who often come from lower to middle class backgrounds who aren’t concerned with the intellectual debate on the evolution of Critical Social Justice pedagogy, but who are instead fighting its impact in the classrooms in real time. All discussed with a chaser of civility, of course, and a grape Power-Ade, a vodka appletini and a boring ole Pinot Noir. To read a recap of the conversation and additional thoughts, and to see what we are each reading, visit our post CRT In The Trenches on the Hold my Drink website. You can also watch the conversation on the Hold my Drink YouTube page.