Conversations with Peter Boghossian

Peter Boghossian and Reid Nicewonder, President of Street Epistemology International, are joined by one of their intellectual heroes, David Deutsch. 

The conversation begins with an exploration of the contagious nature of ideologies, where good intentions can lead to intellectual pitfalls. The three discuss the challenges posed by Social Justice ideology, scrutinizing its evasion tactics in the face of critique and the broader societal implications, such as corrupting peer-reviewed literature and hindering open discourse. 

Street Epistemology principles underscore the conversation as an antidote to hindering discourse. Other topics in this discussion include problem-solving, philosophy, the Fermi Paradox, cosmic exploration, and more!

David Deutsch was born in Haifa, Israel, and pursued his physics studies at Cambridge and Oxford Universities. After spending several years at the University of Texas at Austin, he returned to Oxford, where he currently resides and works. 

More from David:

• Website
• Books

To learn more about Street Epistemology, take the free self-directed course, Navigating Beliefs, here.

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Matt Goodwin is a professor of politics at The School of Politics and International Relations at the University of Kent in Kent, UK. His writing and research primarily focus on radical right-wing politics and Euroscepticism in the British context. Amongst others, his writing has appeared in publications such as The Daily Mail, The Telegraph, The Guardian, and the Evening Standard. He also serves on the Social Mobility Commission via the British Department of Education. 

Peter and Matt build upon their previous interview and discuss illegal immigration and its effects on society and politics. Matt predicts that mass migration will cause a political rightward shift and a severe backlash from the political left. Matt and Peter then discuss the consequences, including an increase in polarization as a result of the political tumult 2024 is likely to bring.

More from Matt: 

• Matt's previous interview with Peter
• Twitter/X 
• Substack

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Vaishnavi Sundar is a feminist, writer, filmmaker & activist from Chennai, India. Her creative work focuses on various human rights issues faced by Indian women. Her previous film "Dysphoric" brought attention to the harms caused by gender identity ideology and her current film, "Behind the Looking Glass", delves into the lives of women whose partners have (or want to) transition. 

She makes films under her production company, Lime Soda Films, and also founded a group of female filmmakers called Women Making Films. Her upcoming novel will explore the war on merit and the progressive obsession with everyone being the same.

More from Vaishnavi: 

• Talks 
• Latest film 

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Bestselling author & journalist Lionel Shriver is known for her “under-expressed, unpopular, or downright dangerous” views. She is the author of more than two dozen novels, but her latest book is more personal. In “Abominations: Selected Essays from a Career of Courting Self-Destruction,” Lionel presents a collection of her most provocative material on topics ranging from religion and mortality to gender and immigration.

As a novelist, Lionel is an advocate for artistic freedom. She recently described censorship in the publishing industry in her Roger Scruton lecture at Oxford, titled “When Cowed Creatives Capitulate: Conformity and Bad Art.” She is particularly critical of the loss of beauty, style, and wit in modern fiction due to “rectitudinous, censorious, and sanctimonious” ideologies.

Lionel’s novels include “We Need to Talk About Kevin,” which the BBC adapted to film, and New York Times bestsellers “Should We Stay or Should We Go,” “So Much for That,” and “The Post-Birthday World.” She is a columnist for The Spectator and her articles have been published by The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, New York Times, and The Economist, among others.

Watch this episode on YouTube.

English YouTuber and commentator Stephen Woodford and Biologist Dr. Colin Wright discuss their differences about sex and gender. Moderated by Peter Boghossian.

Follow Stephen:

• X
• YouTube:  @rationalityrules  

Follow Colin:

• X
• Substack
• Previous conversation with Colin

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Erin Friday from Parents with Inconvenient Truths about Trans (PITT) joins Peter Boghossian to discuss a California ballot initiative that seeks to protect kids from harmful gender policies.

Sign the petition: https://protectkidsca.com/

More from PITT:

• Substack
• Twitter/X
• YouTube
• Book, Parents with Inconvenient Truths about Trans: Tales from the Home Front in the Fight to Save Our Kids

Watch this episode on YouTube.

The only thing better than an interview with Graham Linehan or Leo Kearse is doing Spectrum Street Epistemology with the two simultaneously! Peter Boghossian presents more than 20 claims to the gentleman, unearthing their perspectives on patriarchy, the looming technological singularity, limits of comedy, the BBC, and more.
 
Graham Linehan is an award-winning television writer and the comic genius behind British sitcoms “Father Ted,” “The IT Crowd,” and “Black Books.” He is a vocal advocate for women’s rights and children’s safety. He recently published his bestselling memoir, “Tough Crowd: How I Made and Lost a Career in Comedy.”
 
Leo Kearse is an award-winning comedian with a new weekly show on GB News, “The Saturday Night Showdown.” He was banned from his venue at the Australian Perth Fringe Festival after his content was called transphobic--despite writing the material with a transgender woman he was dating.
 
More from Graham:

• “Tough Crowd: How I Made and Lost a Career in Comedy” by Graham Linehan
• Substack 

More from Leo:

• Website
• YouTube channel  

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Author and journalist Andy Ngo and Professor Eric Kaufmann participated in a Spectrum Street Epistemology exercise in London. The conversation starts with a claim about banning Muslim prayer rituals in public schools. It continues by asking whether the UK should impose a five-year moratorium on immigration, a current debate in the country. This opened up a broader conversation about immigration, cultural assimilation, and national identity. Finally, they examine the question of whether the UK should surrender its current way of life if a majority of the population becomes Muslim in the coming decades.

Andy Ngo is the author of the #1 national bestseller, Unmasked: Inside Antifa’s Radical Plan to Destroy Democracy. His articles can be found in The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Quillette, New York Post, Fox News, and other publications. Andy is Senior Editor at The Post Millennial.

• Andy's previous interview on Peter's channel 
• Andy on Locals

Dr. Eric Kaufmann is a Professor of Politics at the University of Buckingham. Originally from Vancouver, BC, Canada, he was born in Hong Kong and spent most of the last few decades in the UK. He is principally interested in cultural politics: ethnicity, national identity, left-wing ideology and religion, and has written extensively on these subjects. 

• Eric's previous interview on Peter's channel 
• Eric’s website 

Watch this episode on YouTube.

This is one of Peter’s favorite conversations, and his since gone mega viral on Instagram, even gaining attention from actress Queen Latifah.

In Regent’s Park, London, Peter Boghossian conducted a Spectrum Street Epistemology with two children, a twelve-year-old boy and his younger sister. Peter began with claims about science, a topic both children preferred. After the young man demonstrated an extraordinary intellect, Peter upped the ante, presenting complicated claims regarding the limits of science and its relationship to morality and emotion.

At the end of the discussion, Peter asked the young man if he would rather have a life guided by reason or emotion. He responded, “If you just have cold, hard reason without any emotion and human feeling, what does that make you? You won't be able to make kind decisions; you'll just be essentially a robot.”

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Peter Boghossian joined two of his favorite Michaels for Spectrum Street Epistemology in Santa Barbara, California. Bestselling authors and esteemed public intellectuals Michael Shermer and Michael Shellenberger discussed a number of topics ranging from religion to alien life.
 
Peter began with a claim that elicited points of agreement and disagreement: “Christianity is a better bulwark against ‘woke’ than humanism.” This opens a discussion of nihilism, objective vs. subjective views of reality, and moral realism and pragmatism. They consider the primal (and political) rejection of free speech, history’s moral arc, the limits of knowledge, and epistemic humility. Both gentlemen clarify their views on alien life and Mr. Shellenberger, a Christian, identifies the “most important” Biblical passage.
 
Michael Shellenberger is an author, investigative journalist, and the founder & president of Environmental Progress, a nonprofit research organization. He also co-founded the California Peace Coalition, an alliance of parents of children killed by fentanyl and parents of homeless addicts. Michael is the author of “Break Through: From the Death of Environmentalism to the Politics of Possibility” (with Ted Nordhaus), “Apocalypse Never: Why Environmental Alarmism Hurts Us All,” and most recently, “San Fransicko: Why Progressives Ruin Cities.” Peter and Michael published “Woke Psychopathology: A Taxonomy” in October 2023.

Michael Shermer is the world’s leading skeptic and Founding Publisher of Skeptic magazine. He hosts the podcast The Michael Shermer Show and is a Presidential Fellow at Chapman University where he teaches Skepticism 101. Dr. Shermer is the author of several books, including the New York Times bestsellers “Why People Believe Weird Things” and “The Believing Brain.” His latest book is “Conspiracy: Why the Rational Believe the Irrational.”

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Peter presents Stella O'Malley and Menno Kuijper with various claims about the current transgender movement. Stella, a psychotherapist and author, and Menno, a video creator who is gay, both share a similar gender-critical viewpoint. Though, they disagree on some points, notably on whether the term "trans people" should even be used. This leads to a discussion on the importance of language, especially regarding trans issues. Finally, they discuss autogynephilia and consent.

Stella O’Malley is a psychotherapist, bestselling author, public speaker, and parent with extensive experience in counseling and psychotherapy. Her latest book, "When Kids Say They're Trans," offers a resource for parents who want their children to flourish, but do not believe that hasty medicalization is the best way to ensure long-term health and well-being. Stella is also the founder and Executive Director of Genspect, an international organization that advocates for a healthy approach to sex and gender. 

• Stella on X
• Stella's other books 

Menno Kuijper has earned the prestigious award, “Gay of the Year”.  He is a satirist and video creator whose content focuses on "a world overrun with gender woo" and how it undermines the rights and freedoms of women, girls, LGB people, and children.

Menno's YouTube Channel

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Peter Boghossian engages author Dr. Helen Joyce and professor Dr. Eric Kaufmann in Spectrum Street Epistemology. The discussion deals with gender ideology. The claims explore questions such as, "Anyone who conforms to the social construct of woman is a woman" and "If a child says they're trans at school a parent should be notified."

The conversation broadened to whether gender ideology could be thought of as transcendental or quasi-religious, and the pair discussed some of the philosophical and religious underpinnings of this movement. At one point, Helen is asked to take the position of a pro-gender-affirming person, and she takes the opportunity to explain the various justifications that individuals use to support that position. Helen and Eric strongly disagree on whether it is possible to be confused about one's gender identity, and they attempt to guess the other's reasoning behind their position.

Dr. Helen Joyce is a journalist, Director of Advocacy for Sex Matters, and author of "Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality." Her writing has appeared in The Daily Mail, The Evening Standard, The Times, And Critic Magazine. 

• Helen's previous interview on Peter's channel
• Helen's website 
• Helen on X 

Dr. Eric Kaufmann is a Professor of Politics at the University of Buckingham. Originally from Vancouver, BC, Canada, he was born in Hong Kong and spent most of the last few decades in the UK. He is principally interested in cultural politics: ethnicity, national identity, left-wing ideology and religion, and has written extensively on these subjects.

• Eric's previous interview on Peter's channel
• Eric’s website
• Eric on X

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Chris Martenson, Ph.D., MBA is an economic researcher and futurist, and founder of PeakProsperity.com. His COVID video series garnered more than 40 million views and has helped millions better understand, adapt, and prepare for the Pandemic of 2020. 

In addition to analysis and commentary, he writes for PeakProsperity.com, shares his insights on his social media and traditional media, and makes contributions to academic, civic, and private organizations around the world (the UN, the UK House of Commons, and U.S. State Legislatures). 

This conversation starts with Chris detailing his experience with Bret Weinstein at migrant camps in Darién Province, Panama. One camp was filled with Chinese nationals, mostly military-age men. Chris details the arduous and often gruesome journey migrants take from Ecuador (a visa isn't required) to the US border. Interestingly, Chris reveals that migrants from around the world find out about the US's open border through social media, and they are often aided in their journey by organizations such as the UN, the Red Cross, and various Catholic charities. 

In the second half of the conversation, Chris and Peter talk about the hypocrisy of Western governments by allowing illegal immigration to flourish and the cognitive dissonance progressives experience when voting for such policies. Finally, Chris and Peter illustrate how this crisis, amongst others, has led to major distrust in governmental institutions. The conversation ends on a hopeful note.

• Peak Prosperity on YouTube
• Chris's Books

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Johann Hari is a British-Swiss author and journalist, known for his books and his articles in The Independent and Huffington Post. Since 2015, his writing has primarily dealt with the war on drugs, mental illness, and decreasing attention spans. His books on these subjects include Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs, Lost Connections, and Stolen Focus.

In this conversation, Johann and I talk about the variables vying for our attention and their effects on society. Though Johann mentions twelve variables in his book, we focus primarily on social media. Johann and I offer observations of people addicted to technology, and we discuss evidence-based ways to combat this problem. Additionally, we speak about algorithms and their incentives to keep users "angry and scrolling."

Finally, we take the conversation to the implications our shortened attention spans have on interpersonal relationships, political participation, and democracy.

More from Johann:
Books: https://johannhari.com/
Ted Talks: https://www.ted.com/search?q=johann%20hari

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Peter engages actor Laurence Fox and TRIGGERnometry host Francis Foster in a game of Spectrum Street Epistemology. The conversation begins with a claim about hiring airline pilots based on race, a topic that has been widely discussed in recent weeks after a door blew off in-flight on an Alaska Airlines plane. Other claims include dating someone who's transgender, immigration issues in the UK, and more!

Peter asks Laurence and Francis to argue in favor of an opinion they do not hold. The pair leaned into the character of someone who holds beliefs opposite to their own, resulting in a more dynamic (and often funnier) conversation. 

Laurence Fox is a renowned actor, the leader of Britain's Reclaim Party, and host of the Laurence Fox Show. 

Francis Foster is a cultural commentator, well-known comedian, and former teacher of English and drama.

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Bryan Callen is a stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and podcaster. He got his start in show business with the original cast of MADtv and he played “Coach Mellor” on ABC’s “Schooled.” His film and TV credits include “Kingdom,” “Ride Along,” “Sex and the City,” “Californication,” and the latest Joker film. His podcasting credits include Steven Crowder's Mug Club, Conspiracy Social Club, and The Joe Rogan Experience.

In this episode, Bryan starts by talking about the challenges of discussing political topics as a comedian. He shares some of his views, and we discuss how Americans are failing to talk to each other. We then delve into what one can do about the lack of open and honest conversation. The conversation concludes with a discussion about how to affect change in the world, and the necessary internal steps it takes to get there.

More from Brian:

• YouTube channel: Brian Callen Comedy
•  X/Twitter

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Matt Goodwin is a professor of politics at School of Politics and International Relations at the University of Kent in Kent, UK. His writing and research primarily focuses on radical right-wing politics and Euroscepticism in the British context. Amongst others, his writing has appeared in publications such as The Daily Mail, The Telegraph, The Guardian, and the Evening Standard. He also serves on the Social Mobility Commission via the British Department of Education. 

In this conversation, Matt and I discussed the economic and political reality of immigration to the UK. Matt argues that, even though the UK is under a conservative government, the British population has been misled on the issue of immigration. We then discuss the future of Britain and the cultural effects of continued mass immigration.

Connect with Matt: 

• Matt on X/Twitter
• Matt's Substack

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Bruce Gilley is a professor of political science at Portland State University. Bruce wrote an article in 2017 for Third World Quarterly titled, “The case for colonialism.” This enraged people who called for him to lose his academic position and be stripped of his PhD. The article was retracted due to credible death threats. In 2023, he published a book by the same name. 

Before his academic career, Bruce worked as a journalist in Hong Kong. This experience strongly influenced his views about colonialism. In 2021, we produced a series on my channel called, “Decolonize Explained” where Bruce debunks the myths around colonization. 

In this conversation, Bruce and I spoke about the Harvard plagiarism scandal, DEI, and the broader academic landscape. Then, we switched the topic to his book, “The Case For Colonialism.” We discussed the reality of colonialism and what history gets wrong, as well as what may have occurred absent colonialism. The conversation concludes with a discussion about what is next for Bruce’s career.

More from Bruce:

• Guest essay by Bruce on Peter’s Substack
• Bruce’s series on Peter’s channel
• Bruce’s research and book, “The Case For Colonialism” 
• Bruce on X

Watch this episode on YouTube.

In Fall 2023, philosopher and author Nina Power and cultural critic and polymath Carl Benjamin joined Peter for a Spectrum Street Epistemology exercise in Hampstead Heath, London. They explored controversial claims about a variety of socio-political and cultural topics. Nina and Carl have been on Peter's channel before, but this is their first Spectrum Street Epistemology episode.

Peter's interview with Nina Power / Carl Benjamin

Nina received a Ph.D. in philosophy from Middlesex University and an MA and BA in philosophy from the University of Warwick. She was a senior lecturer in philosophy at Roehampton University and has taught at various British universities. She is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a member of the British Philosophical Association. She co-hosts the podcast The Lack with Helen Rollins and Benjamin Studebaker.

Carl Benjamin, AKA "Sargon of Akkad," is best described as a free-speech activist, staunch critic of identity politics, and champion of English Liberalism. When YouTube and Google shadowbanned his channel in 2019 for wrongthink, Carl continued creating content on Akkad Daily. In November 2020, he launched a new media venture: Lotuseaters.com.

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Eric Kaufmann a Professor of Politics at the University of Buckingham. Originally from Vancouver, BC, Canada, he was born in Hong Kong and spent most of the last few decades in the UK. He is principally interested in cultural politics: ethnicity, national identity, left-wing ideology and religion, and has written extensively on these subjects.

After two decades, Eric decided to relinquish his full professorship in Politics at Birkbeck College, University of London for the University of Buckingham, stating his case in an article for The Critic called “From monoculture to counterculture: why I am leaving Birkbeck for Buckingham”.

Peter and Eric discussed multiculturalism and its effects on society, immigration policy, differences between the current state of the US, Canada, and the UK, meritocracy, how to solve the capture of elite institutions, Social Justice, and more. The two even place bets on the future of Critical Social Justice and other cultural issues and will revisit the bet in six months. 

Follow Eric on X.

The European Conservative interview with Eric 

Watch this episode on YouTube.