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, why we need better ways to measure well-being, and how culture shapes our mental health. Learn more ...
Apr 27, 2025•58 min•Ep. 45
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 a reliable, low-emission solution. Together, they explore the history of Australia’s nuclear ban, t...
Apr 23, 2025•41 min•Ep. 44
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 Pierre Poilievre, the new conservative contender shaking up Canada’s political scene. Learn more abo...
Jan 13, 2025•53 min
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 both praise and criticism. In this conversation, Richard shares his journey from academia to becoming a...
Nov 29, 2024•41 min•Ep. 42
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 whether we should be ashamed of our colonial past. I deeply enjoyed Nigel's 2023 book, Colonialism: A Mor...
Oct 29, 2024•44 min•Ep. 41
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 world inevitably leads to suffering. In addition to his work on antinatalism, Benatar has written ext...
Oct 10, 2024•39 min•Ep. 40
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 friendship and disagreement in politics. Berkowitz emphasizes the need for critical thinking and engageme...
Oct 04, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 39
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 difficulties they encountered in academia, compounded by political indoctrination and severely limited ...
Sep 24, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 38
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 16, 2024•57 min•Ep. 37
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've been following Dr. Mike for a while and appreciate how he blends his expertise in sports science w...
Jul 23, 2024•53 min•Ep. 36
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 the need for couples to create a conflict-free zone and learn to understand and appreciate each other...
Jun 21, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 35
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 over the years, he remains a vocal advocate for liberal democratic values, attracting the ire of the far...
Apr 26, 2024•55 min•Ep. 34
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 speaking publicly about his concerns, he as faced severe personal and career repercussions. Graham is in Au...
Apr 12, 2024•39 min•Ep. 33
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 touches on the fear of missing out (FOMO), the impact of social media on relationships, and the shift...
Mar 22, 2024•48 min•Ep. 32
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 12, 2024•25 min•Ep. 31
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 22, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 29
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 drawing the line between actions and speech, and the challenges of immigration and cultural values. She co...
Feb 07, 2024•38 min•Ep. 29
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 22, 2024•1 hr 5 min
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 Pervert. Tune in for commentary on Nietzsche, Strauss, bodybuilding, feminism and the "New Right". L...
Jan 05, 2024•37 min•Season 1Ep. 27
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 decriminalisation of marijuana, nuclear power, and the recent election of Javier Milei. Learn more a...
Dec 22, 2023•36 min
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 14, 2023•41 min•Ep. 25
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 07, 2023•28 min•Ep. 24
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 Reflections of War Initiative (ROW). Julian joins me on the podcast to debunk some of the myths that Is...
Nov 25, 2023•56 min•Ep. 23
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 specialising in property and urban development, environmental economics, rent-seeking and corruption. His la...
Nov 07, 2023•48 min•Ep. 22
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 researchers to explore the evolutionary and ecological implications of sexual reproduction. His work is primar...
Oct 26, 2023•44 min•Ep. 21
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 discuss Virginia's podcast, My Sister's Secrets, which explores the stories of Virginia and her late siste...
Oct 05, 2023•39 min•Ep. 20
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 politically correct circles, so much so that one activist asked that the public boycott the show or deman...
Sep 28, 2023•47 min•Ep. 19
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 colonisation had a "positive impact" on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Learn more about your ad ...
Sep 21, 2023•38 min•Ep. 18
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 enlightening "You Know I" podcast, where she delves into a myriad of thought-provoking topics—ranging from ...
Sep 15, 2023•28 min•Ep. 17
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 on various topics, most notably her advocacy for the protection of women’s sex-based rights and her ...
Sep 05, 2023•50 min•Ep. 16
