Quillette Cetera
Quillette's Zoe Sankey sits down each fortnight with scientists, writers, activists, and independent thinkers to interrogate the ideas shaping — and dividing — the Western world. From evolutionary psychology and gender to cancel culture, free speech, Islamism, and the collapse of progressive orthodoxies, no topic is too contentious and no question is off limits. Guests have included policy researchers, evolutionary biologists, political dissidents, and some of the sharpest heterodox thinkers writing today. If you're tired of being told what to think, this is the podcast for you.
Episodes
Inside Human Rights Watch: Danielle Haas on How NGOs Stopped Being Neutral
Danielle Haas spent almost 14 years as a senior editor at Human Rights Watch, overseeing the organisation’s thematic and geographic research. In November 2023, she left—and in an exit email to colleagues, she set out her concerns about the rigour of the organisation’s work on Israel. Since then, dozens of current and former staff from across the sector have come forward with similar accounts.
Zineb Riboua on Iran, the Houthis, Israel and the Battle for the Middle East
Zineb Riboua is a research fellow at the Hudson Institute’s Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East and founder of its China in MENA Project. She joins Zoe Sankey to discuss Iran, the Houthis, Israel, Turkey, Islamism, China’s influence in the Middle East, and the growing ideological divide between the West and its opponents.
Why is Iran escalating from a position of weakness? What do th
Why Populism Ends in Disaster with Richard Hanania
Richard Hanania is a political scientist and president of the Center for the Study of Partisanship and Ideology. He spent about a decade as one of the most influential voices on the online right — first writing pseudonymously in the alt-right, later as one of the intellectual influences on the Silicon Valley tech right. Then he watched his own ideas take power, and changed his mind.
His new book
The Truth About the Gender Pay Gap with David Maywald
Author David Maywald joins Zoe Sankey to discuss the female wage premium among young Australians, the collapse of male rites of passage, and why boys are told from primary school that masculinity is a problem to be managed.
His essay for Quillette: https://quillette.com/2026/05/05/the-emerging-female-wage-premium/ The Relentless War on Masculinity: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1764339703?tag=quill
Crémieux on Fertility Collapse, Ozempic, IQ & Why Pit Bulls Are the Way They Are
Zoe Sankey sits down with Crémieux (the pen name of researcher Jordan Lasker), the formerly anonymous X writer-researcher whose data threads on genetics, demographics and metabolic drugs have drawn a following of more than 260,000 — including some very prominent readers.
It's a wide-ranging conversation. They cover collapsing fertility rates and the Victorian obscenity trial he argues helped set
Why Ireland Became Europe's Most Antisemitic Country | Rachel Moiselle
Rachel Moiselle is a PhD candidate at Trinity College Dublin and one of Ireland's most visible activists against antisemitism. In this episode of Quillette Cetera, she joins Zoe Sankey to discuss what it's like to defend a community of roughly 3,000 Jews in a country that largely denies it has an antisemitism problem at all.
Rachel talks candidly about the ignorance surrounding Jewish culture in
Why Ireland Became Europe's Most Antisemitic Country | Rachel Moiselle
Rachel Moiselle is a PhD candidate at Trinity College Dublin and one of Ireland's most visible activists against antisemitism. In this episode of Quillette Cetera, she joins Zoe Sankey to discuss what it's like to defend a community of roughly 3,000 Jews in a country that largely denies it has an antisemitism problem at all.
Rachel talks candidly about the ignorance surrounding Jewish culture in
The NGO Industrial Complex: Gerald Steinberg on How Human Rights Became a Racket
NGOs have a great deal of influence over our lives. This episode uncovers the hidden power structures behind the world's most powerful non-governmental organisations — and why they deserve far more scrutiny than they get.
Zoe Sankey sits down with Gerald Steinberg — founder of NGO Monitor and professor emeritus of political science at Bar-Ilan University — to discuss the evolution of NGOs from
Oikophobia: Why the West Hates Itself | Benedict Beckeld
What does it mean for a civilisation to turn against itself? In this episode, Quillette's Zoe Sankey speaks with philosopher and author Benedict Beckeld — whose 2019 Quillette essay on oikophobia remains one of our site's most popular pieces — about the recurring historical phenomenon he has spent his career documenting: the tendency of successful Western societies to denigrate their own culture,
Hava Mendelle: From Climate Activist to Critic of Radical Left and Gaza Flotilla
Hava Mendelle defies easy categorisation. Openly gay and proudly Jewish, she is a fifteen-year Australian Army veteran, emergency department nurse, published author, and co-founder of Minority Impact — a coalition of Australian minorities united in their opposition to Islamic radicalism and far-left extremism. She writes for The Spectator Australia, The Times of Israel, and The Jewish Independent,
Australia's Broken Justice System with Andrew Bushnell
Zoe Sankey speaks with Andrew Bushnell — policy researcher, criminal justice expert, and fellow at the Institute of Public Affairs — about crime, justice, and some of the most urgent and uncomfortable questions in Australian public life.
They start with the alleged murder of Kumunjayi, a five-year-old Aboriginal girl killed in the Northern Territory despite six child protection notifications in t
Does Western Civilisation Exist? James Kierstead on Ancient Greece, Christianity, and the West
Does Western civilisation actually exist — or is it just a modern political myth?
In this episode of the Quillette Cetera podcast, Zoe Booth speaks with classicist James Kierstead about the origins of the West, the “Greek miracle,” Christianity, monogamy, democracy, and the cultural foundations of modern civilisation.
They discuss:
Whether the West is real or an invented concept
Ancient G
Oikophobia and the Crisis of Western Democracy with Shany Mor
In this conversation, Zoe Booth and Shany Mor discuss the complex interplay between Australia's reputation in relation to Israel, the impact of anti-Israel activism, and the cultural and intellectual anxieties that contribute to anti-Semitism. They explore the role of guilt in Western society, the challenges of identity and belonging in multicultural contexts, and the evolution of political discou
Inside Iran’s Deadly Protests with Shay Khatiri
Shay Khatiri is one of the most clear-eyed analysts of Iran’s regime and its role in global geopolitics. Raised in the Islamic Republic before escaping to the U.S., he now serves as Vice President and Senior Fellow at the Yorktown Institute and writes The Russia–Iran File, a Substack dissecting the domestic and foreign policy strategies of both regimes. His work has appeared in The Wall Street Jou
Adam Louis-Klein on Why He Founded the Movement Against Antizionism
In this conversation, Zoe Booth and Adam Louis-Klein delve into the complexities of antizionism, exploring its ideological roots, the language used to propagate it, and its normalisation in contemporary society. They discuss the formation of the Movement Against Antizionism (MAAZ) and the importance of recognising antizionism as a distinct form of bigotry. The dialogue also addresses the historica
Exposing the Qatar Lobby: Chama Mechtaly on Islamism, Censorship, and the West
Chama Mechtaly is a Moroccan-American artist, activist, and policy advisor whose work sits at the intersection of cultural preservation, deradicalisation, and Middle Eastern diplomacy.
Born in Casablanca in 1992 to a Muslim mother and a Jewish father of Amazigh heritage, she draws on her complex identity to promote dialogue and coexistence between Muslim and Jewish communities throughout North Af
How Audience Capture Fuels Antisemitism, Identity Politics, and Anti-Israel Hysteria | Corey Walker
From algorithmic incentives to progressive posturing, this episode explores how anti-Semitism has become a feature—not a bug—of influencer culture. Zoe Booth speaks with Corey Walker, a Washington, D.C.-based reporter focusing on the Middle East and global terror groups, about audience capture, the anti-Western project of the modern Left, and why Israel represents values worth conserving.
Learn mo
How Foreign Funding Is Shaping Australia’s Energy Debate: Gerard Holland
Zoe Booth speaks with Gerard Holland, CEO of the Page Research Centre and a founding member of the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship. Together they explore how foreign funding is shaping Australia’s energy policy, what’s driving the rising cost of living, and why ideological commitments to renewables may be undermining the country’s economic and strategic resilience.
Holland argues that Austra
Why Do Women Orgasm? With Evolutionary Psychologist Robert King
Zoe Booth speaks with Robert King, a psychology lecturer and researcher at University College Cork, whose work explores human sexual behaviour through the lens of evolutionary psychology and behavioural ecology.
Their conversation centres on the evolution of female orgasm—its potential adaptive significance, its neglect within scientific literature, and the cultural forces that continue to shape
Romance Across the Divide with David Christopher Kaufman
Journalist and former New York Post editor David Kaufman joins Quillette’s Zoe Booth to discuss his viral essay, The Art of Middle Eastern Pillow Talk, in which he recounts an unexpected romantic encounter with a Palestinian man that leads to a frank, civil conversation about Zionism and “genocide” in the aftermath of October 7th.
They also explore the politics of civility and why New York politi
How Intrasexual Competition Suppresses Female Fertility with Dr Dani Sukilowski
In this episode of the Quillette Podcast, host Zoe Booth speaks with behavioural scientist Dr Dani Sulikowski about the sociocultural and evolutionary drivers behind collapsing fertility rates in Western societies. Drawing on emerging research and data from her own lab, Dr Sulikowski explores how intersexual competition among women, shifting gender norms, and declining testosterone levels in men m
Robot Ethics and Colonial Legacies with Sean Welsh
Sean Welsh is one of Quillette’s most wide-ranging contributors, having written on subjects as varied as artificial intelligence, Middle Eastern politics, and colonial history. Trained in philosophy and employed as a computer programmer, Welsh describes writing as a pursuit of curiosity rather than a career—a way to explore the questions that interest him.
In this conversation, he speaks with Zoe
Leaving the Woke Cult with Anthony Rispo
In this episode of the Quillette Cetera podcast, host Zoe Booth is joined by Anthony Rispo—a writer, independent researcher, and co-host of The Discourse Lab podcast. Anthony holds a degree in psychology from Columbia University, where he specialised in social cognition and sociopolitical behaviour. His academic research has explored narrative, perspective-taking, and autism, and he founded Columb
Adam Szetela on How Cancel Culture and Sensitivity Readers Are Shaping the Publishing Industry and Silencing Dissent
In this episode of Quillette Cetera, Zoe Booth speaks with Harvard fellow and Cornell PhD Adam Szetela—author of new book That Book Is Dangerous: How Moral Panic, Social Media, and the Culture Wars Are Remaking Publishing (MIT Press, 2025).
A working-class kid turned literary insider, Szetela exposes what he calls “the sensitivity era”: a cultural climate in which books are cancelled before they’
Can We Regulate Online Hate Without Killing Free Speech? With Dr Andre Oboler
In this episode, Dr. Andre Oboler—CEO of the Online Hate Prevention Institute and a global expert on antisemitism, hate speech, and online extremism—joins Zoe Booth to unpack the surge in antisemitic hate speech since October 7, 2023,.
Dr. Oboler discusses recent antisemitic attacks on Australian synagogues, and his role as an expert witness in the landmark Wissam Haddad hate speech case, which t
Masculinity and Political Extremism with Sociologist Josh Roose
This episode explores how masculinity, identity, and marginalisation can drive young men toward political and religious extremism. Drawing on research with Australian Muslims and broader work on the “Manosphere,” the conversation covers honour cultures, online radicalisation, misogyny, and the emotional undercurrents linking movements from jihadism to the far right. Also discussed: the social impa
Discussing the Iran-Israel War with an Iranian Dissident Danial Taghaddos
As missiles fly between Tehran and Tel Aviv, I’m joined by Iranian dissident Danial Taghaddos to make sense of a rapidly escalating war—and what it means for the future of Iran, Israel, and the region. Danial moved to Australia in 2018 and became politically active during the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests. A royalist and advocate for a return to constitutional monarchy under the Pahlavi dynasty, he’s
The Truth About Narcissistic Personality Disorder with Giancarlo Dimaggio MD
In this episode, Quillette’s Zoe Booth sits down with Dr Giancarlo Dimaggio—an internationally recognised psychiatrist and psychotherapist best known for his work on metacognitive therapy and the treatment of personality disorders. Based in Rome, Dr Dimaggio is the co-founder of the Centre for Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy and has published extensively on narcissistic, borderline, and avoida
The Biggest Taboo in Academia: Israel, with Maarten Boudry
Maarten Boudry is a Belgian philosopher of science and a prominent public intellectual known for his work on pseudoscience, secularism, and ideological bias. He is a research professor at Ghent University and a vocal advocate for free inquiry and Enlightenment values.In this episode, Zoe Booth speaks with Maarten Boudry about the growing discomfort around discussing Israel in academic settings—par
From Languishing to Flourishing, Dr. Matthew Iasiello on the Science of Well-Being
Mental health isn’t just about avoiding illness—it’s about learning how to thrive. In this episode, mental health researcher Dr. Matthew Iasiello explains the “dual-continuum” model: a framework that sees mental illness and well-being as distinct but connected. With insights from his podcast Researching Happy and his work at SAHMRI and Be Well Co, Matt joins Zoe to unpack the idea of languishing,
Australian Election 2025: The Nuclear Debate with Will Shackel
In this conversation, Zoe Booth speaks with Will Shackel, an 18-year-old energy advocate and founder of Nuclear for Australia, a youth-led campaign pushing for the inclusion of nuclear power in the country’s energy mix. They discuss the rising cost of electricity and the structural challenges facing the national grid. Shackel makes the case for nuclear energy—particularly small modular reactors—as
My Experience Working With Justin Trudeau: Jonathan Kay
Quillette's Senior Editor, Jonathan Kay reflects on his time ghostwriting Justin Trudeau’s memoir and shares his take on Trudeau’s political trajectory—from golden boy to polariser-in-chief. We get into the highs of his early leadership, his pivot to hardcore social progressivism, the fallout from the truckers’ protest, and the growing anxiety around immigration. Kay also weighs in on the rise of
Talking Far-Right Extremism and the Middle East with Richard Hanania
Richard Hanania is an American political scientist and commentator, known for his right-wing perspectives and as president of the Center for the Study of Partisanship and Ideology. He faced controversy in 2023 when his past writings under a pseudonym advocating white nationalism resurfaced, which he has since disavowed. His book, The Origins of Woke, critiques identity politics and has sparked bot
An Honest Conversation About Colonialism and Australia's History with Nigel Biggar
On the 23rd of October, I sat down in Sydney, Australia, with the esteemed ethicist and theologian Nigel Biggar—Regius Professor Emeritus of Moral and Pastoral Theology at the University of Oxford—to discuss King Charles' visit to Australia, whether Australia should cut ties with the British monarchy and become a republic, what it means to be a patriot, far-left activism, cancel culture, and wheth
7 October, One Year Later with David Benatar
Until recently, David Benatar was a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, where he also directed the university’s Bioethics Centre. He is widely known for his controversial and challenging views on topics like antinatalism—captured in his groundbreaking book Better Never to Have Been: The Harm of Coming into Existence—which argues that bringing new life into the w
Reading Hannah Arendt with Roger Berkowitz
In this conversation, Roger Berkowitz discusses the profound influence of Hannah Arendt on political thought, her practical philosophy, and the relevance of her ideas in contemporary society. He explores Arendt's views on truth, opinion, the role of intellectuals, and the dangers of bureaucracy. The discussion also delves into the complexities of Zionism, anti-Semitism, and the importance of frien
Escaping Cuba with Justo Antonio Triana
Justo Antonio Triana reflects on his experience growing up in Cuba under a dictatorship, highlighting the pervasive poverty, lack of freedom, and challenges faced by Cuban women. He debunks the myth of Cuba’s healthcare system and explores how tourism exacerbates the struggles of ordinary Cubans. Coming from a family of professors, he sheds light on the different social classes in Cuba and the dif
New Theism and Liberalism vs Realism with Matt Johnson
This conversation covers two main topics.
Firstly, liberalism and "new theism", an idea popularised by Tom Holland and Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who believe that the secular west is spiritually bankrupt.
The second half of the conversation involves a critique of political realism and in particular, John Mearsheimer's work on the Israel Lobby and the Russia-Ukraine war.
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Dr Mike Israetel: The Philosopher Bodybuilder
Dr. Mike Israetel is a well-known figure in the fitness and bodybuilding community, recognized for his expertise in sports science, particularly in the areas of hypertrophy (muscle growth), strength training, and nutrition. He holds a PhD in Sport Physiology and has a background in competitive bodybuilding, powerlifting, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
As someone with a keen interest in bodybuilding, I'v
Rebalancing the Gender Narrative with Dr Warren Farrell
Dr. Warren Farrell discusses his latest book, 'From Rolemate to Soulmate,' which draws on his decades of counseling couples. He highlights the importance of effectively handling criticism in relationships and the consequences of not feeling heard. Dr. Farrell also explores the different forms of violence in relationships and challenges the notion that men are the sole perpetrators. He emphasizes t
Defending Democracy with Drew Pavlou
Drew Pavlou is an Australian student and activist. He made international news after he led protests at the University of Queensland in Australia, supporting Hong Kong and criticizing the university's ties to China. His actions led to a high-profile disciplinary case against him by the university, and a $3.5 million lawsuit which was recently settled.
While his methods of protest have softened ove
Graham Linehan Was Right About Gender Ideology
Graham Linehan has experienced cancel culture firsthand. After building a huge following for his work on the popular TV shows "Father Ted," "Black Books," and "The IT Crowd", Graham became concerned about unscientific gender ideology, including self-identification, males competing against females in women's sports leagues, and experimental gender medicine, including puberty blockers. Since speakin
Freya India on Why Young Women Need to Stop Oversharing Online: Quillette Cetera Episode 32
In this conversation, Zoe Booth and Freya India discuss the trend of opening up about mental health online, particularly among women. They explore the influence of mental health companies and the glamorization of mental health struggles on social media. They also discuss the risks of sharing personal information online and the pressure to document and share every aspect of life. The conversation t
Claire Lehmann on Confected Radicalism: Protesting for Protesting's Sake
In this episode, Claire and I discuss the concept of confected radicalism, which refers to young activists who seek out radical causes despite the success of past movements.
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Razib Khan Answers My Most Controversial Questions About Genetics
Are Ashkenazi Jews indigenous to the Middle East? Is Palestinian a distinct ethnicity, different to other Arabs? Why do some races have bigger noses or eyes or butts or boobs? Are some ethnicities more homogenous than others? Is inbreeding actually terrible for your genetics or can it make them stronger?
All that and more in this episode of the Quillette Cetera podcast.
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Australia’s New Free Speech Union, a Conversation with Dara Macdonald
Dara Macdonald, a lawyer and director of the Free Speech Union in Australia, discusses the need for a free speech union in the country and shares examples of free speech issues. She explains the support provided by the union and the Australian flavour it brings to the cause. Dara also talks about her background and interest in free speech, the Andrew Bolt Section 18C case, the importance of drawin
Speaking with Zionist Palestinian John Aziz
Zoe speaks with the British-Palestinian writer, data scientist and peace-activist John Aziz about his viral Atlantic piece, how he came to support Zionism, and how Palestinians have a responsibility in achieving peace.
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Bronze Age Pervert's Latest Book: A Review
Oliver Traldi is a John and Daria Barry Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions in the Department of Politics at Princeton University.
In this episode we discuss Oliver's latest piece for Quillette, a review of the latest book by Costin Alamariu, a polarising author and influencer who enjoys a cult-like following under the pseudonym Bronze Age
David Limbrick, The Aussie Libertarian
David Limbrick is a Libertarian Member of Parliament in Victoria's upper house. He has been a Quillette reader since its inception in 2015 and came along to our Quillette Social in Melbourne in September 2023.
Zoe asks David about the work he's done in pushing for a "watchful waiting" approach to treating children with gender-dysphoria in Victoria, his attendance at the Let Women Speak rally, the
Understanding Woke Antisemitism
Quillette contributor and author of Woke Antisemitism: How a Progressive Ideology Harms Jews, David Bernstein, joins Zoe to discuss the ways antisemitism manifests on the Left and Right, and to explore how universities should promote free speech on campus.
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Australian Universities Have a Viewpoint Diversity Problem
Social scientist, Quillette contributor and Heterodox Academy member, Andrew Glover, joined me in September to talk about the current issues facing Australian universities when it comes to viewpoint diversity.
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Forensic Anthropologist and Veteran Julian McBride Debunks Myths About the War in Gaza
Julian McBride is a former US Marine who served in Afghanistan and then saw active warfare in Yemen while working for the United Nations. Now trained as a forensic anthropologist, he has taught Middle Eastern History at NYU and works as a military consultant and independent journalist.
After suffering PTSD, Julian found solace in art-therapy, which lead him to found a not-for-profit called the Ref
How Powerful Networks Exploit Australia: Speaking with Dr. Cam Murray, the Fresh-Thinking Aussie Economist
Just how much cronyism exists in Australia?
Is it true that younger generations are worse off economically than baby boomers?
Is home-ownership good metric for economic success?
Is there a perfect number of immigrants that Australia should allow in?
Why is Sydney's property market so expensive?
All these questions and more are answered in this episode with Dr. Cameron Murray, an economist special
AI Girlfriends Are Good For Society: Evolutionary Biologist Rob Brooks on Artificial Intimacy and Mating Economics
Rob Brooks is an evolutionary biologist who focuses on the evolutionary consequences of sexual reproduction. His areas of interest include the evolution of mate choice, the costs of being attractive, sexual conflict, the reasons animals age, and the interconnectedness of sex, diet, obesity, and mortality.
Leading a dynamic research group known as the SEX LAB, Rob collaborates with other research
Care Feminism vs Career Feminism
Zoe interviews Virginia Tapscott, a freelance journalist and mother of four from rural New South Wales, Australia. They discuss the concept of care feminism, which emphasizes the value and importance of women's care work, whether it is paid or unpaid. Care feminism is contrasted with dominant feminist rhetoric that sometimes aims to minimize or avoid care work altogether.
Additionally, they discus
This Musical Contains Slurs. And It’s Hilarious.
In this episode of Quillette Cetera, Zoe sits down with Christopher HF Mitchell and Jayan Nandagopan, two Australia-based artists whose show, The Marvellous Elephant Man Musical, is now showing at the Sydney Fringe Festival.
The absurdist dark comedy is a crowd favourite and the winner of the Adelaide Fringe 2023 Critics' Circle Award. However, its carefree gags have ruffled many feathers in polit
Why We Don’t Have White Guilt + the Spanish Kiss Overreaction
Claire and Zoe discuss how overblown the Luis Rubiales and Jenni Hermoso scandal was, and how much they enjoyed Heather Mac Donald's piece about it in Quillette.
Then they go on to discuss the Australian referendum on the Voice to Parliament and how impressed they were by Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price's address to the National Press Club, where she made the controversial claim that colonisatio
Too Gay for the Christian Church, Too Problematic for the Woke Church
As a Christian lesbian and non-woke artist, Melody Rachel has always felt isolated from the communities she gets grouped into. But as Melody shows, perhaps happiness comes from accepting your own identity as an individual, not from demanding acceptance as a member of an identity group.
Melody Rachel is a multifaceted artist from New Zealand who currently resides in Sydney. Melody hosts the enligh
Women: Oppressed or Oppressor?
Do we live under a patriarchy? Should women boycott sex with men? What's the Nordic approach to prostitution? Is masculinity celebrated more than feminity?
We cover all that + more in this conversation with Holly Lawford-Smith, a philosopher and academic whose work primarily focuses on topics in political philosophy. Holly has been the subject of much public discussion and debate due to her views
The Australian Press Council Has Been Captured
In this episode, Claire and I discuss a complaint lodged with the Australian Press Council concerning one of Claire's articles in The Australian. In her piece, Claire compares Australia's method of treating children with gender dysphoria to Finland's more nuanced approach, which neither affirms nor denies gender identities.
This raises the question: Has the Australian Press Council been influence
Why US Immigration Threatened to Separate Twin Sons Born to Gay Fathers
In 2018, Nancy L. Segal an American evolutionary psychologist and world-renowned twin expert, was gripped by a news headline saying that US immigration had threatened to break up twin boys born to gay fathers by refusing a visa to one twin.
What followed was Nancy's five year journey of documenting the story of Andrew and Elad Dvash-Banks and their twins Ethan and Aiden. It culminated in the publi
Why We Hated the Barbie Movie
Find out why Iona and Zoe hated the new Barbie movie.
Iona Italia is an associate editor at Quillette. She is also the editor of Areo Magazine and host of the Two for Tea podcast. She writes for Substack at The Second Swim.
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Nuclear Energy, Grifters and Pearl Davis' Anti-Semitism
Spicy topics this week, as usual. Find out about the flaws in Australia's #CSIRO #Gencost report on #renewableenergy (it's not as cheap as they say), why environmentalists are hostile towards #nuclear energy, and why grifters like #pearldavis do themselves a disservice when they fall for anti-semitic #conspiracy theories.
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The Deadly Consequences of Cancel Culture + How Mainstream Feminism Devalues Motherhood
Claire and Zoe discuss the tragic death of Richard Bilkszto, a Toronto educator who took his life after being falsely smeared as a white supremacist by a DEI trainer. We recently published an article by Quillette editor Jon Kay who recounts Richard's story, you can read it on our website.
We also discuss how mainstream feminism devalues motherhood and undermines the importance of biology. Could t
Houellebecq's New Book + The Recent Race Riots in France
Michel Houellebecq, the controversial French author, has consistently produced novels that explore societal challenges, often tracing back to the cultural revolution of the 1960s.
His new book, "Quelques Mois dans ma Vie" (A Few Months in My Life), which was published in May 2023, reveals two recent scandals that have embroiled his life.In this episode I interview RJ Smith, an Australian author wh
Beauty Privilege, Thirst Trapping & Slut Shaming
Why do women post sexy selfies? And why does this behaviour anger some people?
Claire Lehmann and Zoe Booth discuss the complex world of intrasexual female competition and their experiences with it, concluding that the more we know about human behaviour, the more empowered we are to make good decisions.
"Slut shaming" can also be referred to as sexual shaming, sexual bullying, sexual stigmatizati
Woke-washing, The Indigenous Voice to Parliament & Instagram Threads
Claire and Zoe discuss how large corporations such as BHP, Coles, Woolworths, and the Big Four banks, leverage ESG scores issued by rating agencies to boost their reputation, despite their involvement in wage theft scandals, underpaying workers, and breaching laws. This practice of investing in ESG to deflect attention from controversies is known as 'wokewashing'.
A recent example of this is them
School Refusers & Helicopter Parenting
In Australia, thousands of children and teenagers are increasingly refusing to attend school due to anxiety, a phenomenon known as "anxiety-based school refusal". Over half of students were chronically absent last year, defined as missing over 20 days of school annually. This trend has been attributed to the impact of Covid lockdowns on mental health and the influence of excessive screen time. Soc
It's Hip to Be "Trad"
Claire and Zoe discuss Queensland's new self-ID laws, how the pendulum has swung so far that "trad" is now counter-culture, and Zoe's online escapades messaging trolls who hate Quillette.
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The Brittany Higgins Scandal + the truth about sexual assault
In Episode 5, Claire and Zoe discuss updates on the Brittany Higgins scandal, which suggest that Higgins (and journalists such as Lisa Wilkinson) rode the #MeToo wave for personal gain.
We also discuss sexual dynamics in general, including some talk of sexual assault and how to prevent it.
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Is Quillette far-right? And why we can't advertise on Facebook.
A researcher from the University of Cincinnati who is conducting seminars on "far-right radicalization" in the United States characterises Quillette, an Australian-based liberal-centrist organization, as being more "radicalizing" than Fox News and comparable to InfoWars. This "researcher" has been awarded over $300,000 from the US Department of Homeland Security. Maybe us being characterised as a
Debating Australia's Vaping Ban
Quillette's community manager, Zoe Booth, asks her friend and PR whizz, Emilie Dye, on the podcast to debate the Australian government's crackdown on vapes: "The Government will work with states and territories to close down the sale of vapes in retail settings, ending vape sales in convenience stores and other retail settings, while also making it easier to get a prescription for legitimate thera
Trans activists have no right to pervert the English language
'"Woman. Noun. Adult human female,” read the sticker applied to Queensland MP Shannon Fentiman’s office window. Walking past the window at the Waterford Shopping Centre in Logan, one might have assumed the sticker belonged to Fentiman. She was, until Thursday, Queensland’s Minister for Women.
But one would’ve been mistaken. “I know the sticker doesn’t look like it says much, and most people will
Victimhood ideology and feminism
In the first of a series of conversations, Claire Lehmann (Quillette founder) and Zoe Booth (Quillette Community Manager) discuss Claire's latest essay in The Australian about teen mental health and talk more broadly about victimhood ideology, feminism and audience capture.
Claire's article The Australian can be read here: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/progressive-ideologies-send-the
