Sydney's #1 talk radio host, the legendary Ben Fordham, joins journalist, podcaster and explosive former ABC provocateur Antoinette Lattouf to debate the big stories of the week. To get more content like this and to join in the fun of the Uncomfy Convos multiverse, hit the Substack page at https://uncomfortableconversations.substack.com/subscribe http://youtube.com/@JoshSzeps_ http://twitter.com/joshzepps http://instagram.com/joshszeps/ tiktok.com/@uncomfyconversations Follow Antoinette twitter....
Apr 11, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep 218•Transcript available on Metacast This week, the Federal Court of Australia will hear a case with profound implications for women's rights and trans rights. It involves a women's app whose creator is being sued for discrimination by a trans woman because the app is exclusively for biological females. Here, the defendant shares her story. Should women be allowed to exclude transgender women from female-only spaces? Or do trans women have a human right to be treated, anywhere and everywhere, as biological females? Most of the medi...
Apr 08, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep 217•Transcript available on Metacast Nobody attended all seven live conversations with Douglas Murray. Nobody will ever hear them all. Except for Josh. Here, he brings you into the inner circle. What takeaways did Josh get? Was he frustrated by Douglas' blind spots? Has Douglas changed Josh's mind on Gaza, Zionism, trans issues or wokeness? This is a taste of a longer episode for premium subscribers. If you'd like to hear the whole thing, pop over to the Substack page at https://uncomfortableconversations.substack.com/subscribe htt...
Apr 04, 2024•12 min•Ep 216•Transcript available on Metacast For the first Uncomfortable Conversations live tour, Douglas Murray joined Josh in conversation on a sold-out five-city tour. This is the audio of the final show, in Melbourne. Whether you agree or disagree with him, Douglas is one of the most important public intellectuals today. A journalist and bestselling author, he tackles controversial issues head on like nobody else. Two of the live shows will be posted on YouTube (you won't hear those here to avoid duplication, so be sure to subscribe to...
Mar 31, 2024•56 min•Ep 215•Transcript available on Metacast Douglas Murray is one of the foremost conservative thinkers of our time. He's a journalist and author of numerous best-selling books who's appeared on some of the biggest stages around the world. Douglas and Josh just completed the first ever Uncomfortable Conversations live tour at sold-out venues in five cities, debating topics as diverse as the conflict in Gaza, cancel culture, gender dysphoria and much more. Here's the first taste of the tour: Two audience Q&A segments from the Brisbane ...
Mar 28, 2024•24 min•Ep 214•Transcript available on Metacast Do you ever feel apprehensive about speaking up? Are you ever misunderstood? Do you ever find other people evasive, or abrasive? The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Charles Duhigg caused a splash 12 years ago with his research into the formation of habits and his book "The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life." Now, he's studied super communicators to discover why you're misunderstood, and what you can do better. His new book is "Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of...
Mar 25, 2024•50 min•Ep 213•Transcript available on Metacast This is a preview of an episode for paid subscribers. What should we make of politics in the 2020s? Are we in an ascendant moment for the centre left? The US swung Democratic at the last midterm elections. The Australian conservatives were annihilated at the last poll. The same will happen to the UK Tories later this year. Peter van Onselen is a professor of politics who has written multiple books about the rise and fall of almost every recent conservative prime minister. He has worked inside pa...
Mar 21, 2024•12 min•Ep 212•Transcript available on Metacast Peter Garrett is one of the most iconic Australians. As the lead singer of Midnight Oil, he's had countless number one hits all over the world. He entered politics and reached the highest levels of government as a cabinet minister, including spearheading the campaign to ban Japanese whaling worldwide. As an environmentalist and indigenous rights activist, he has seen a half-century of social justice. Josh sits down with an Australian legend to pick his brain about modern culture, the left and th...
Mar 17, 2024•59 min•Ep 211•Transcript available on Metacast Can a non-white person be racist? Or is racism something only white people do? The beloved captain of Australia's national women's soccer team, Sam Kerr, a woman of colour, was charged by UK police with racial harassment after allegedly calling a white male police officer a "stupid white bastard" in London. Australia's commentariat has been twisting itself in knots trying to find the correct anti-racist hot take. The official consensus is that people of colour can't be racist, so she did nothing...
Mar 15, 2024•39 min•Ep 210•Transcript available on Metacast When Josh left his ABC Radio show in December, keen observers recalled an appearance he'd made on the hugely popular US podcast The Fifth Column some months earlier, which had hinted that all was not well in paradise. For the first time since jumping off from the legacy media train, Josh sits down with the Fifth Colunmistas in New York City for a catch-up... and a review of the spiciest stories in the news. This is a crossover episode with The Fifth Column podcast. If you've already heard it on ...
Mar 12, 2024•2 hr 31 min•Ep 209•Transcript available on Metacast Yesterday we released a preview of this paid episode. Due to the reaction to the full episode on the paid feed, we are re-releasing it here for free as a public service. Amid the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, "anti-Zionism" has become shorthand for "anti-bombing-Palestinians". But what do we mean when we ask if someone opposes Zionism? Does being a “Zionist” mean you support Israel's brutality? Josh is being asked this question more and more. He tries to untangle an answer. To get more conte...
Mar 07, 2024•24 min•Ep 208•Transcript available on Metacast Do we fetishise indigenous culture? Praising timeless First Nations wisdom makes us feel warm and fuzzy. But what do land acknowledgements, smoking ceremonies and racial sensitivity classes have to do with the oldest continuous civilisation on earth and its future in the modern world? Tyson Yunkaporta is an Aboriginal scholar at Deakin University in Melbourne. His new book is "Right Story, Wrong Story: Adventures in Indigenous Thinking". He and Josh have it out. To get more content like this and...
Mar 04, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep 207•Transcript available on Metacast Well, the knives are out. Later this month, Josh is touring Australia with the outspoken British journalist Douglas Murray. It's the first in a series of live tours that'll bring you the world's most interesting minds from across the entire political and ideological spectrum. You'll hear some of those events on this very pod. But now, the threat of cancellation looms. Activists are trying to force theatres to cancel the Douglas Murray events. Here, Josh shares his thoughts. This episode is only ...
Feb 29, 2024•11 min•Ep 206•Transcript available on Metacast The Worthless Twink is one of the most prominent gays on Instagram. But he's not called that any more. Tim Abbott is reinventing himself as a meme artist. He gets real and raw with Josh about influencers, the gays, and self-obsession. This episode was recorded before the tragic death of Sydney couple Jesse Baird and Luke Davies on Monday the 19th of February. To get more content like this and to join in the fun of the Uncomfy Convos multiverse, hit the Substack page at https://uncomfortableconve...
Feb 26, 2024•1 hr•Ep 205•Transcript available on Metacast Josh is joined by fan favourite Professor Joel Pearson, neuroscientist and psychologist, to discuss the biggest stories in technology... and how they'll affect your life. To get more content like this and to join in the fun of the Uncomfy Convos multiverse, hit the Substack page at https://uncomfortableconversations.substack.com/subscribe http://youtube.com/@JoshSzeps_ http://twitter.com/joshzepps http://instagram.com/joshszeps/ tiktok.com/@uncomfyconversations...
Feb 22, 2024•17 min•Ep 204•Transcript available on Metacast This week, Josh is joined on the panel couch by Courtney Act, one of the world’s most iconic drag queens (or, rather, by her even more captivating alter ago, Shane Jenek) and by the ABC's National Technology Reporter, Ange Lavoipierre. To subscribe to Josh’s premium podcast feed, hit the Substack page at https://uncomfortableconversations.substack.com/subscribe http://youtube.com/@JoshSzeps_ http://twitter.com/joshzepps http://instagram.com/joshszeps/ tiktok.com/@uncomfyconversations...
Feb 19, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Ep 203•Transcript available on Metacast Angela is Australia’s most successful adult film actress, and the most award-winning female porn star in history, anywhere. She graduated with First Class Honors and now runs a multi-million-dollar operation as one of the top 0.01% of OnlyFans creators. She and Josh discuss gender, sexual identity, Botox, porn and taboos. To get more content like this and to join in the fun of the Uncomfy Convos multiverse, hit the Substack page at https://uncomfortableconversations.substack.com/subscribe http:/...
Feb 16, 2024•56 min•Ep 202•Transcript available on Metacast Anti-Zionist Instagram mums are on the hunt. They plan to expose secret WhatsApp messages where sniveling, bloodthirsty Jews like Josh plot. What’s up with snitching these days? Can we quit it already? Also, Josh bought a cat and needs your advice. To subscribe to Josh’s premium podcast feed, hit the Substack page at https://uncomfortableconversations.substack.com/subscribe http://youtube.com/@JoshSzeps_ http://twitter.com/joshzepps http://instagram.com/joshszeps/ tiktok.com/@uncomfyconversation...
Feb 12, 2024•33 min•Ep 201•Transcript available on Metacast Neuralink brain implants. Apple Vision Pro virtual reality. Silicon Valley tech bros who plan to live forever. It’s been a big week in science and technology news, and who better to devour, digest and regurgitate it for you than neuroscientist Joel Pearson and technology journalist Angharad "Rad" Yeo (and their humble interlocuter nerd, Josh)? Joel’s book is The Intuition Toolkit and you can check out the show’s YouTube page to see our purdy faces. Let us know what you think of the episode on th...
Feb 09, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep 200•Transcript available on Metacast How does the moist grey meat between your ears create the kaleidoscope of sensations you experience as your life? How do other animals experience the world? And will A.I. ever feel like something? Joel Pearson is a psychologist and neuroscientist who runs the Future Minds Lab at the University of New South Wales and is in charge of Innovation & Enterprise in their school of psychology. His new book is "The Intuition Toolkit: The New Science of Knowing What without Knowing Why." Join Joel as ...
Feb 06, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep 199•Transcript available on Metacast The doomsayers are out in force, with plenty of gloomy prognostications for 2024. In this solo episode (also available on YouTube if you want to behold Josh’s staggeringly beautiful hair), Josh explains why — on climate, economics and politics — 2024 will be a helluva lot better than you think.
Feb 03, 2024•37 min•Ep 197•Transcript available on Metacast Josh had a tradition on his radio show. Each Friday, he’d banter with two celebrities about the news. Well, behold this first-ever inaugural grand honorary opening maiden extravaganza lollapalooza: The Uncomfortable Conversations Panel. This week, our guests are the two most interesting people in the world: Sarah Wilson and Jessie Stephens. Sarah’s podcast is Wild, which you should listen to. She’s also a multi-New York Times best-selling author, social philosopher and keynote speaker. Jessie’s ...
Feb 02, 2024•26 min•Ep 198•Transcript available on Metacast Should swastikas be banned? Should you be allowed to chant “Palestinians are terrorists”? What about “trans women aren’t women”? Or “Covid was a hoax”? In an era of misinformation and hate speech, universities, governments and journalists are wrestling with whether to control what gets said. Should there be any limits? You’ve seen James Kirchick on Bill Maher’s show. He’s a big free-speecher; a writer, columnist, and a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. He and ...
Jan 30, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Ep 197•Transcript available on Metacast Today, January 26th, is Australia's national day. It's hugely controversial, being the anniversary of the British Empire's arrival on indigenous land. On the morning of Australia Day, Josh reflects on race relations and the ongoing Australia-Day controversy. To subscribe to Josh’s premium podcast feed. Hit the Substack page at https://uncomfortableconversations.substack.com/subscribe
Jan 26, 2024•41 min•Ep 196•Transcript available on Metacast Elie Honig used to prosecute the mafia in New York City. Now he’s CNN’s senior Legal analyst. As a seasoned prosecutor of organised crime, he helps Josh wrestle through Trump’s legal problems and their likely outcomes. Elie’s new book is “Untouchable: How Powerful People Get Away with It”. To subscribe to Josh’s premium podcast feed. Hit the Substack page at https://uncomfortableconversations.substack.com/subscribe...
Jan 23, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep 195•Transcript available on Metacast Meg made an astonishing documentary about Guantanamo terrorists who were released into a de-radicalisation program in Saudi Arabia. Then her film, The UnRedacted (Jihad Rehab), was cancelled… and so was she. To subscribe to Josh’s premium podcast feed. Hit the Substack page at https://uncomfortableconversations.substack.com/subscribe *CORRECTION: The UnRedacted (Jihad Rehab) is not yet available to watch at JihadRehab.com but Meg is working on it and it will be ready in the very near future. Fol...
Jan 16, 2024•1 hr 19 min•Ep 194•Transcript available on Metacast When we accuse a country of being a "coloniser", it's meant as a bad thing. But what if colonialism is okay? What if the British Empire was, on balance... good? That's the position of @NigelBiggar, a Professor Emeritus at Oxford University whose new book, “Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning”, is making heads explode all over Britain. Join Josh as he tries to wrestle with the ethics of the Raj, indigenous rights, racism, and one of the greatest crimes – or greatest virtues? – in political history. To...
Jan 09, 2024•51 min•Ep 193•Transcript available on Metacast Are Jews a minority? Do they deserve the same social-justice protections as other identity groups? Or are they white—perhaps even the “whitest” of white privileged elites? David Baddiel is a comedian and writer. He helped turn comedy into ‘the New Rock’n’Roll’ when he created the hit TV shows ‘The Mary Whitehouse Experience’ and ‘Newman & Baddiel in Pieces’. He’s appeared on the UK’s biggest comedy shows including ‘Little Britain’, ‘Skins’, ‘8 Out of 10 Cats’, and ‘QI’, and he performed to 1...
Jan 02, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Ep 193•Transcript available on Metacast How long can ham sit on the Christmas table before you shouldn’t eat it? Can fried rice kill you? Can you store butter out of the fridge? Why did Josh start spewing chunks just twenty minutes after eating a chimichanga? Gary Kennedy is a world expert in food safety and the managing director of Correct Food Systems. To help you survive your impending holiday feast (and every Chinese takeaway you’ll ever have), don’t miss this quirky, compelling, uncomfortable Christmas special.
Dec 21, 2023•16 min•Ep 192•Transcript available on Metacast How would your life change if you found out, beyond all doubt, that you're a robot? What if nothing you’ve ever done was your own free choice? What if your brain just tricks you into feeling like you’re choosing things it already planned? Josh can't believe that. But the Stanford Professor Robert Sapolsky, one of the world’s leading free-will sceptics, does. His latest book is “Determined: A Science of Life without Free Will”. Prepare to have your mind blown. If you have one. To subscribe to Jos...
Dec 19, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep 191•Transcript available on Metacast