The Shape of Dialogue

The Shape of Dialogue podcast focuses on the foundational principles that make societies function at their best. It initially started with an investigation into free speech, it continues to discuss relevant and interesting topics about our world and how best to navigate through it.

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Episodes

What is science? with Professor Steven Pinker - The Shape of Dialogue # 8

In July 2021, seven University of Auckland professors published a letter to the editor in the New Zealand Listener, titled In Defence of Science. The professors' were responding to a Government education report (see link below), recommending parity for Mātauranga Māori in the secondary school curriculum, and in particular, in the science classroom. The report states: ”Our goal is to ensure parity for mātauranga Māori with the other bodies of knowledge credentialed by NCEA (particularly Western/P...

Dec 10, 2021•39 min•Ep. 8

Antiracism rhetoric with Dr Erec Smith - The Shape of Dialogue # 7

Dr Erec Smith is an Associate Professor of Rhetoric at York College of Pennsylvania. Although he has eclectic scholarly interests, Dr Smith’s primary focus is on the rhetorics of anti-racist activism, theory, and pedagogy. He is a co-founder of Free Black Thought, a website dedicated to highlighting viewpoint diversity within the black intelligentsia. Dr Smith is a Writing Fellow for Heterodox Academy, a Senior Fellow for the Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism and an advisor for Counterwe...

Nov 15, 2021•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 7

What is science? with Dr Kyle Gibson - The Shape of Dialogue # 6

A recent "letter to the editor" penned by seven University of Auckland professors was published in The Listener, a national magazine in New Zealand - see below. The letter, In Defence of Science, stated that a Ministry of Education working group's proposed curriculum changes were "perpetuating misunderstandings of science". The letter objected to the working groups assumptions that "science has been used to support the dominance of ethnocentric views (among which its use as a rationale for colon...

Sep 14, 2021•1 hr 49 min•Ep. 6

Street Epistemology with Anthony Magnabosco - The Shape of Dialogue # 5

Anthony Magnabosco is a skeptic and atheist from San Antonio Texas who has been practicing and promoting Street Epistemology since 2013. Anthony has had several hundred chats (many of them on camera and uploaded to his YouTube channel ) on a variety of claims including Gods, ghosts, karma, law of attraction, and a variety of social and political topics. Anthony has been interviewed on countless podcasts (many of which are listed here). He is also a Founder and the current Executive Director of t...

Dec 13, 2020•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 5

Freedom of Speech with Elliot Ikilei - The Shape of Dialogue # 4

Elliot Ikilei discusses freedom of speech and other things https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elliot_Ikilei Music: Kyrie from Bach B Minor Mass conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner Buy it here: https://music.apple.com/gb/album/mass-in-b-minor-bwv-232-cum-sancto-spiritu/1053521016

Oct 06, 2020•2 hr 10 min•Ep. 4

Freedom of Speech with Simon Wilson - The Shape of Dialogue # 3

Leading New Zealand journalist, Simon Wilson, discusses freedom of speech. Music: Kyrie from Bach B Minor Mass conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner Buy it here: https://music.apple.com/gb/album/mass-in-b-minor-bwv-232-cum-sancto-spiritu/1053521016

Sep 03, 2020•55 min•Ep. 3

Freedom of Speech with Professor James Flynn - The Shape of Dialogue #2

My first guest is a world-renowned political and moral philosopher, University of Otago's Emeritus Professor James Flynn defines what freedom of speech is and why it's so important to us all. Music: Kyrie from Bach B Minor Mass conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner Buy it here: https://music.apple.com/gb/album/mass-in-b-minor-bwv-232-cum-sancto-spiritu/1053521016

Sep 03, 2020•41 min•Ep. 2

Freedom of Speech with Michael Goldwater - The Shape of Dialogue #1

An investigation into freedom of speech and why it's so important. In this episode I'll discuss why and how freedom of speech is a fundamental principle for societies to function at their best. Music: Kyrie from Bach B Minor Mass conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner Buy it here: https://music.apple.com/gb/album/mass-in-b-minor-bwv-232-cum-sancto-spiritu/1053521016

Sep 03, 2020•20 min•Ep. 1

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