The Discourse Lab
Clayton Smith uses conversation to explore ideas, analyze arguments, and question dogmas. The podcast features an ideologically diverse suite of guests, encouraging thoughtful dialogue and critical thinking. It aims to dissect complex topics through respectful discourse and rigorous reasoning.
Episodes
Socialism & Zero-Sum Foolishness w/ Holly Jean Soto
In this episode Clay is joined by Holly Jean Soto. Holly is an economics and liberty communicator who seeks to distill complex economic concepts into content that anyone can understand. In addition to her social media activity, she also writes. Her work can be found in publications such as The Daily Wire and Real Clear Politics. You can follow Holly on X, TikTok, and Instagram. If you want to unde
"I know what bloodthirsty hatred looks like." - David Christopher Kaufman
In this episode, Clay is joined by David Christopher Kaufman. David is a New York based journalist whose writing can be found in many notable publications, including The New York Post, The Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, Tablet, The Jerusalem Post, and Commentary, just to name a few. He has also worked as an editor for The New York Times. David’s writing often focuses on identity. A subj
An Age of Violence w/ Alex DeVitry
In this episode Clay is joined by friend of the pod Alex DeVitry. Alex is currently a Master’s student at Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), where he is studying international conflict resolution, foreign policy and diplomacy, and the Middle East. He also writes excellent articles about political violence in the 21st century on his Substack. This conversation covers
“It’s not the billionaires that are the problem; it’s the boomers.” - Sam Raus
In this episode, Clay is joined by Sam Raus. Sam is a political analyst and public relations professional. He is also the David Boaz Resident Writing Fellow at Young Voices.Sam writes on a number of topics from a libertarian perspective, including AI, data centers, healthcare, and social security.Listen to this episode to understand why Sam thinks fears surrounding data centers are overblown,
"Once you believe Jews are evil, it becomes easier to get you to believe anything about them." - Omry Hananya
In this episode, Clay is joined by NYC-based comedian and social media personality Omry Hananya, aka The Angry Prophet. Omry has gained a large following online by using humor to disprove anti-semitic conspiracy theories. Listen to this episode to learn about goyslop, the Khazar theory, how to convince your friends to stop being anti-semitic, and much more!
"My parents would go without food so I could eat." - Gaby Blanco
In this episode, Clay is joined by Gabriela Blanco. Gabriela was born and raised in Cuba, where her family endured oppression and economic hardship under the communist regime. When she was 23, she escaped the island and eventually made her way to the United States.Gabriela has traveled the country sharing her story with young people as a speaker for The Dissident Project, an organization that h
"The West is a social construct." - Ruel Domi
In this episode, Clay is joined by Ruel Domi. Ruel is an Albanian political commentator whose work focuses on global affairs, international relations, geopolitics, and Albanian, European, and American politics. He is a frequent commentator on Albanian television and writes regularly on political and international developments affecting Albania, Europe, the United States, and the wider world.Ruel h
"Trans women are getting hotter" - Brianna Wu
In this episode, Clay is joined by political commentator, computer programer, and former congressional candidate Brianna Wu. Brianna has written and spoken on a number of topics, but she is best known for her commentary on trans issues (she is herself a trans women), progressive politics, Israel-Palestine, and the video game industry. She is also a Porsche enthusiast.Listen to this episode to hear
"Families are hotbeds of conflicting needs" - Rachel Haack
In this episode, the boys are joined by Rachel Haack. Rachel is a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist who specializes in helping families navigate adult-child estrangement, chronic conflict, and relational breakdowns. To that end, she offers structured consulting, as well as group workshops. Rachel also writes a SubStack called Thoughts from a Therapist and has a substantial social media foll
Literature & Meaning w/ Liza Libes
In this episode Clay is joined by Liza Libes. Liza is an author, content creator, and voracious reader of classic fiction. She is also the owner and operator of Invictus Prep, a college consulting company that helps applicants leverage the power of narrative to get into their dream school. This is an episode that can be divided into two main parts. The first part consists of Liza’s unique and fasc
Lootin' & Shootin'
In this episode the boys discuss the recent White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting, Hasan Piker’s recent controversial conversation with The New York Times, deontic thinking on the left, and more!Mentioned in this episode:‘The Rich Don’t Play by the Rules. So Why Should I?’ - The New York TimesRead White House Correspondents’ Dinner suspect Cole Allen’s full anti-Trump manifesto - The New Yor
Geography of Prosperity w/ Bradley Schurman
In this episode Clay is joined by Bradley Schurman. Bradley is a demographic strategist and author whose work has focused on how demographic shifts are re-shaping economies, cities, and global power structures.His most recent project is The Geography of Prosperity Index, which he co-created with Jaymes Cloninger. The Geography of Prosperity Index ranks the largest 250 U.S. metro-areas on five key
War Bad. Space Good!
In this episode the boys discuss how the conflict in Iran is causing the MAGA right to fracture, and why the Artemis II mission is so incredibly cool. Some clarifications:The lunar impact crater “Carroll” was named after Commander Reid Wiseman’s late wife, who died of cancer in 2020.Jeremy Hansen was the Canadian member of the crew.Mentioned in this episode:The Devoted Actor Breaking History Pleas
Populism, Immigration, and Power w/ Sagnik Basu
In their first-ever in-person episode, the boys are joined by Sagnik Basu. Sagnik is a content creator, producer, and community builder who helped get The Daily Caller and Breaking Points off the ground. He currently serves as the executive producer of Washington Post Opinions. He also hosted his own show, where he had conversations with right-leaning figures like Emily Jashinsky, Saagar Enjeti, R
Gay Identity, Ideology, & Connection w/ Michael Pezzullo
In this episode, Anthony is joined by Michael Pezzullo. Michael is a licensed psychotherapist specializing in gay men’s mental health. His YouTube channel Therapy for Gay Men has over 18k subscribers and counting.In this wide-ranging conversation, Anthony and Michael explore body image and self-worth in gay spaces, whether "the scene" actually exists or is mostly a projection, and what really driv
Dissecting the War in Iran
Is Iran really trying to build a nuclear bomb? Why is the strait of Hormuz so important? What are some realistic best-case scenarios for this conflict? In this episode Clay is joined by returning guest Alex DeVitry. to try and make sense of these questions and more. Alex is a student at Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), where he is studying international conflict
Fighting Climate Doomerism w/ Lucy Biggers
In this episode, the boys are joined by Lucy Biggers. Lucy is a journalist and content creator currently serving as the Head of Social Media for The Free Press. In her mid-20s, Lucy was an influential climate activist whose work for outlets like “NowThis” helped popularize apocalyptic narratives about global warming and bring the Standing Rock protests to national attention.During COVID, Lucy bega
Sovereignty and Violence w/ Avery Daye
In this episode the boys are joined by Avery Daye. Avery is a conservative commentator and social media influencer with over 137k followers on TikTok, just under 130k followers on X, and a whopping 335k followers on Instagram. Listen to this episode to get Avery’s take on immigration, gender issues, whether or not Islam is compatible with the west, and a whole lot more. For those of you wondering
Symmetry in Political Rigidity w/ Dr. Luke Conway
In this episode the boys are joined by Dr. Luke Conway. Luke is a social psychology researcher, professor, and author who has over a hundred pieces on the psychology of politics and culture. He has served as an associate editor for the Society for Personality in Social Psychology's flagship journal and is an elected fellow of that journal and the Society of Experimental Social Psychology. He is cu
Anarchy in The U.K. w/ Esther Krakue
In this episode the boys are joined by Esther Krakue. Esther is a Ghanaian-British writer, broadcaster, and political commentator. She has interviewed prominent figures like Nigel Farage and Douglas Murray, and her work has been featured in outlets such as The Daily Mail, The Daily Express, and The Free Press.Listen to this episode to hear Esther describe her unique political journey, as well as g
Islam, Iran, and The West w/ Alex DeVitry
In this episode Clay is joined by Alex DeVitry. Alex is currently studying international conflict resolution, foreign policy and diplomacy, and the Middle East at Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). He also writes excellent articles on the many nuances of political violence in the 21st century on his Substack. Alex is a man with an outstandingly fascinating and unique ori
Free Market Econ 101 w/ Colin Braman (aka Liberty Evaluation)
In this episode the boys are joined by Colin Braman. Colin is a PhD Student studying program and policy evaluation. He also has a background in psychology, statistics, and research design. However, you might know him better by his Instagram handle, Liberty Evaluation. Liberty Evaluation is an instagram page where Colin posts wonderfully insightful videos explaining the principles of free market ec
Delay Judgement, Speak Obvious Truths
In this episode the boys discuss the recent ICE killing in Minneapolis. How do we make sense of it? Was it justified? Anthony sheds some light on what it's like dealing with people online when you have a lot of followers (or "disciples" as Clay puts it).Finally, the lads take a little time to discuss what they've been writing about recently. Check out their Substacks!Anthony's SubstackClay's Subst
¡Viva Venezuela libre! w/ Carlos Egaña
In this episode the boys are joined by Carlos Egaña. Carlos is a Brooklyn-based Venezuelan writer, teacher, and rising social media personality. He has written about fine arts, Latin-American politics and pop culture for various Venezuelan and American publications.Calros also has four books in Spanish in print: a novel titled Reggaetón and three poetry collections, mínima antología desde la rabia
The Trouble with Luxury: Rob Henderson
In this episode the boys are joined by Dr. Rob Henderson. Rob is a writer, public intellectual, and veteran. After serving in the U.S. Air Force he attended Yale University, where he studied psychology. He then went on to get his PhD in Psychology from Cambridge University. He is currently a Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a Contributing Editor at City Journal, and a member of the board
The CODA Kids
In this episode the boys are joined by Aum Desai and Nikos Mohammadi. Aum is a student at Columbia College studying Political Science and Economics. He is the president of The Columbia Open Discourse Alliance (CODA), a senior editor at the Columbia Political Review, and a board member for the Columbia Hindu Students Organization. Nikos is also a student at Columbia College, where he is majoring i
Socialism: Coming to an Election Near You!
In this episode the boys are joined by not one, but TWO returning guests: Jonas Du and Daniel Idfresne. They discuss the what Zohran Mamdani's recent victory means for NYC, whether or not it's a sign of things to come across the nation, and what the heck happened in the surprisingly cordial meeting between the mayor elect and Trump. Mentioned in this episode:Meet the Socialists Following Mamdani’s
So Right, It's Wrong
In this episode the boys discuss the fringe right, with a special focus on Nick Fuentes' recent interview with Tucker Carlson. They also touch on the fact that Candace Owens has completely lost the plot. The far right is going very, very wrong. Mentioned in this episode:Ben Shapiro's video criticizing Tucker and Fuentes Tucker Carlson's interview with FuentesCandace Owens's interview with Elle Ree
Toppling the Tower of Psychobabble (A Conversation with Joe Nucci)
In this episode the boys are joined by Joe Nucci. Joe is a psychotherapist, social media influencer, and writer who recently published his first book, Psychobabble: Viral Mental Health Myths & the Truths to Set You Free. Listen to this episode to hear Joe's thoughts on ADHD, the overuse of the word "trauma," the relationship between therapy and politics, and much more!Be sure to follow Joe on
The Left is Dead, Long Live the Left (A Conversation with Erin Hagood)
In this episode the boys are joined by Erin Hagood. Erin is a History PhD student at Columbia University and president of the Platypus Affiliated Society. Erin is a wealth of knowledge regarding the history and philosophy of the left. Listen to this conversation if you want to learn about the origins of leftism, the definition of Marxism, and much more!If you walk away from this episode with more
The Chat Got Leaked. They Are Cooked (Fr Fr).
In this episode the boys discuss Greta Thunberg’s claim that she was tortured in Israeli custody, why they think Israeli statehood is legitimate, the recent “Young” Republicans group chat leak, and more!Mentioned in this episode:- Politico article about the leaked YR group chatSupport us:- Follow us on social media, and rate and review us on your podcast player of choice.- Buy from our recommended
Gaza, Conversion Therapy, and The Woke Right
In this episode the boys discuss why it's difficult for the pro-Palestine crowed to get excited about the possibility of peace in Gaza, the merits of the Chiles v. Salazar conversion therapy case, and wether or not "woke right" is a real thing. Mentioned in this episode:- This is what the Woke Right is by Ani O'BrianPlease don't forget to follow us on social media, and rate and review us on your p
The Gaza Peace Plan, Sora II, and Book Recommendations
In this episode the boys discuss the recent Gaza peace plan and the newly released AI video generator, Sora II. They also give you their book recommendations!Mentioned in this episode:Trump’s 20 Point PlanHaviv Rettig Gur’s thoughts on the Trump planAnthony's 5 books to help you master you emotions:Man’s Search For Meaning 7 1/2 Lessons About The Brain Emotional Agility The Courage To Be Dislike
Finding Common Ground (A Conversation with an Anti-Polarization Crusader)
In this episode the boys are joined by Tony Vanderhoef. Tony is currently studying at Florida State University College of Law, where he is specializing in constitutional law. When he's not hitting the books, he is posting political news updates on his Instagram, or writing his newsletter, Common Ground (for which he has another Instagram). Tony's on a mission is to provide unbiased, reliable news
Hate Speech is Free Speech (A conversation with the former president of the ACLU)
In this episode, the boys are joined by Nadine Strossen. Nadine is a civil liberties lawyer, legal scholar, activist, and author who's notable accomplishments are too numerous to list in totality. However, she is perhaps most famous for serving as the first female president of the ACLU from 1991 to 2008. Her books include such titles as Hate: Why We Should Resist It with Free Speech, Not Censorshi
Charlie Kirk, Empathy, and Political Violence
In this episode the boys discuss the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk. They explore the reactions from both the left and right and the psychological underpinnings of political violence. Listen to this episode to also hear about the different types of empathy, the latest FIRE college free speech rankings, Jungian archetypes, and much more.Don't forget to follow us on social media, and subscribe
Nikos Mohammadi (Non-Democrat Leftist)
In this episode the boys are joined by Nikos Mohammadi. Nikos is a rising sophomore at Columbia College and an aspiring writer. His work can be read in Sublation, Sundial, and the Substack Cracks in Postmodernity. Nikos offers insightful takes on Neoliberalism, Trump, Mamdani, and much more! Some examples of Nikos' writing include...- MAGA Won. It Gave Us Zohran Mamdani.- Deporting Mahmoud Khalil
Mike Luso (News Theorist)
In this episode of Discourse Lab, the boys are joined by Mike Luso. Mike is a writer, content creator, and journalist. He hosts News Theory on YouTube, a video essay show that brings to light the different narratives and biases in media. Mike has also made several appearances on the Jubilee series Surrounded, most recently in a video titled 1 LGBTQ+ Activist vs 25 Conservatives (ft. Zander Moricz)
Dr. Joe Duarte (Microagression Skeptic)
In this episode the boys are joined by Dr. Joe Duarte. Joe is a Social Psychologist who's work centers on political diversity, open inquiry, and methodological rigor in the behavioral sciences. He is perhaps best known for being the lead author of the 2015 paper Political diversity will improve social psychological science. Joe has been a prominent voice on how political bias undermines research o
Sam Nahins (Loves Ukraine, Hates ISIS)
If you want to support Ukraine please donate to Ukrainian Relief Fund. In this episode the boys are joined by Sam Nahins. Sam is a writer and former Air Force drone operator. He is currently pursuing an MFA at Columbia University. Sam has been featured on Fox News, Newsmax, French 24, and other programs, where he has been outspoken about his views on Israel, Ukraine, and campus protests. In the Su
Daniel Idfresne (A Real New Yorker)
In this Episode the boys are joined by Daniel Idfresne. Daniel is a moderate-conservative thinker and commentator who’s writing has been featured in Real Clear Politics, The Free Press, and The New York Post, among others. He’s also a native New Yorker and rising senior at Syracuse University. Tune in to hear Daniel’s opinion on NYC Charter Schools, rent control, Zohran Mamdani’s primary victory,
The Big Beautiful Episode
In the first part of this episode Clay flies solo. He humbly requests guest suggestions, and also offers a good faith response to some very critical instagram comments. In the second part the lads discuss the "Big Beautiful Bill" (finally!), or at least the parts of it that they found particularly interesting. This one is a bit long, so bonus points to anyone who makes it all the way to the end. P
Jonas Du (Not a Fascist)
In this episode the boys are joined by Jonas Du, a Free Press Fellow and founder of Sundial, Columbia University's newest, most ideologically diverse student publication. Jonas shares his personal experience as a young conservative surrounded by mostly left-wing peers, and talks about what lead him to found Sundial. He also shares details about his latest article,Young, Hot, and Triumphant: Welcom
Fascists, Commies, and Dudes Riding Elephants
In this episode of Discourse Lab, the boys dive into how ideology distorts research, discuss the strengths and weaknesses of moral foundations theory, and struggle (but ultimately succeed!) to explain P-values and P-hacking.
What had happened was...
In this episode the boys explain why you're not getting a full length episode this week. Stay to the end to hear what Anthony and Clay love about the good ol' US of A!
The Mamdani Effect
In this episode, Anthony and Clay discuss NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's socialist platform. Listen to this episode if you want hear about the merits of rent control (or lack thereof) , the psychological predisposition of the authoritarian left, the nuggets of gold in Zohran's platform, and much more! Sincerest apologies to Mr. Mamdani for mispronouncing his name on a number of occasions.O
Welcome to Discourse Lab!
In this intro episode co-hosts Clay and Anthony introduce themselves and explain what they hope to do with Discourse Lab. Expect to learn why they stopped making The Columbia HxA Podcast, when new episodes will drop, why they chose the name "Discourse Lab," and more!
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