Premium: Reflections On A Trip To West Africa
As Josh comes to the end of his trip to West Africa. He sits down with his travel companion Dan to share their summary of the adventure.
Episodes
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps
The world has never been more connected. Yet never more divided. We yell at each other from inside our echo chambers. But change doesn’t happen inside an echo chamber. It’s time to get out, to stretch our legs, to step on some land mines. It's time to have an uncomfortable conversation with Josh Szeps.
A DM Podcast
Episodes
"Fleeing Islam" with Yasmine Mohammed
After a dramatic youth that included a forced marriage to an Al-Qaeda operative, Yasmine became an activist for women’s rights in the Muslim world. Her charity, Free Hearts, Free Minds, helps ex-Muslims escape Muslim theocracies. Ironically, some of her toughest adversaries are western progressives, too timid to criticise Islam.
"Booze, Meat & Ultramarathons" with Rich Roll
He’s a one-man wellness, publishing and podcasting empire. Rich Roll started getting fit in middle age and is now a world-renowned vegan ultra-endurance athlete.
Premium: When Josh Met Dick Cavett
Dick Cavett is one of the greatest television talk show hosts of all time. After being a writer on the original NBC Tonight Show (first with Jack Parr, then with Johnny Carson), Cavett got his own show in 1968. It ran for nearly 40 years and cemented him as a titan of American broadcasting, hosting seminal political debates as well as Hollywood’s biggest stars. A few years ago, Cavett appeared on Josh’s TV show. This is the audio of that encounter.
"Is Trump Insane?" with Anthony Scaramucci
“The Mooch” was a wildly successful investment banker when he joined Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. He became the White House Communications Director in 2017. Anthony tells Josh about his time in the White House, his relationship with Trump, and what kind of a guy he really is.
Premium: Josh Is In West Africa!
Josh is backpacking around West Africa. As you do. What’s it like? He’s here to tell you, recorded live from the road (or the dusty track, as the case may be). Sign up below on our FREE Substack tier to hear the whole thing. https://uncomfortableconversations.substack.com/subscribe
"The Death of the University?" with Peter Boghossian
Universities are now dominated by diversity, equity and inclusion mandates, says the philosopher Peter Boghossian… and the result is a stultifying climate of intellectual conformism. In this all-new instalment of Permission to Think, our collaboration with the UTS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Josh and Peter debate how universities, and our culture at large, can reclaim true intellectual freedom.
"Is Nuclear Power The Answer?" with Zion Lights
If you're a greenie, you're supposed to be anti-nuclear. That was true of the former Extinction Rebellion spokesperson Zion Lights... until she became one of Britain's most prominent advocates for nuclear power. But do her claims stand up to Josh's scrutiny?
Premium: Artie Lange, Jon Ronson, Guys We F****d
Josh walked into a bar in Brooklyn and, in front of a packed crowd of drunks, argued about the news with some of the funniest, smartest people in New York. This is that event.
"Will Trump Be Arrested?" with James Kirchick
Jamie Kirchick knows everything about the secret, spooky, saucy, seedy side of Washington DC. Hear him hold forth on the secret history of gay spies, trans activists and, of course, the never-not-impending arrest of Donald J Trump. To hear the full episode for FREE, sign up to the free tier on Josh's Substack at: https://uncomfortableconversations.substack.com/subscribe
Premium: The Deep Questions - How Loudly May I Poo In Public?
In this brand new venture, Josh addresses some of life's deepest questions as posed by his friend and work colleague Robbie Armfield. In this first episode, Robbie has anxiety about generating sounds and aromas in the office toilet cubicle. Robbie has questions. Josh has the answers. You can find more from Robbie on his podcasts "Welcome to Meet You" and "Robbie's Modern Life".
"Getting Real On Race" with Coleman Hughes
The brilliant Coleman Hughes is an American writer, podcaster and musician. He burst onto the intellectual scene at a young age with his ruthlessly well-articulated opinions on race and public policy issues. He joins Josh this week with his giga-brained thoughts on race, equity and inclusion.
Premium: Zach Cregger - From The Archives
You probably know Zach Cregger from comedy shows like Wrecked and Whitest Kids U'Know. He also wrote and directed Barbarian, one of the horror films of 2022. This chat from the #WeThePeople LIVE archive is a conversation Josh and Zach had in Puerto Rico in 2016 where they spoke about the process of making good comedy, procrastination and how social media kills creativity.
"The Transgender Who Wasn't" with KC Miller
For most transgender people, transitioning is one of the greatest experiences of their lives. For others, it deforms into crippling regret. KC Miller is one of them.
"Predictions Of A Scientific Futurist" with Dr Catherine Ball
Dr Ball is a scientific futurist whose book is Converge: A futurist's insights into the potential of our world as technology and humanity collide." She and Josh wrestle with artificial intelligence, the future of food, radical life extension, and air fryers.
Premium: Ask Me Anything
Remember a while ago Josh asked you, to ask him anything? Yep, he only answered one question - which turned into a full episode about JK Rowling... Well, there were many more tasty morsels in that cauldron of questions, so he's back to answer more!
"The Problem With Everything" with Tim Urban
Tim Urban’s first appearance on this show remains one of the all-time favourites. Now, this explosive thinker of cosmic, civilisation-level thoughts returns with a book: “What's Our Problem? A Self-Help Book for Societies”. He and Josh wrestle with what’s going wrong. Why is everything a mess? Why is everyone acting like a baby? When did things get so tribal? Why do humans do this stuff? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Premium: Myq Caplan - From The Archives
From the #WeThePeople LIVE archives this week to a 2016 chat with the wonderful Myq Caplan. First and foremost Myq is comedian. Josh and Myq chat about what funny is, how he became funny, and the creative process he uses to stay funny. Enjoy. For the full episode sign up at uncomfortableconversations.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
"Left Is Not Woke" with Susan Neiman
Susan Neiman is one of the world's most respected living philosophers. She was born in America and educated at Harvard but now lives in Germany, where she's the director of the Einstein Forum and a member of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences. She's a leading expert on the Enlightenment. Her new book is Left is not Woke . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Premium: Is JK Rowling Transphobic?
This week, the world's biggest LGBTQI+ event, World Pride, kicks off in Sydney. Right on cue, activists are calling to boycott a new Harry Potter video game because Rowling is a famous anti-trans bigot. But... is she? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"What Happened To The IDW?" with Ross Anderson
The so-called "intellectual dark web" was supposed to shine a light on issues too thorny for the mainstream media to touch. Now, it's a basket case of kooks. The journalist Ross Anderson recently wrote an amazing feature on the "red-pilling" of the gay conservative online host Dave Rubin. He's here to explain what's going wrong. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
"The Climate Optimist" with Saul Griffith
Josh gets excited, at long last, about a realistic plan for fighting climate change while creating new jobs and a healthier environment. In short: electrify everything. For more about Saul, check out his website HERE . Subscribe to our Substack HERE . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Premium: Oliver Burkeman - From The Archives
Going back some five years to Josh's first ever chat with the now Uncomfy Convos regular, the self-help psychology sage Oliver Burkeman. On this episode we talk about happiness, drawing on his 2012 book The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
"The New Gurus" with Helen Lewis
Helen Lewis's new BBC Radio 4 show, The New Gurus, investigates why so many of us have turned away from mainstream medicine, mainstream politics and the mainstream media to embrace the power of charismatic individuals instead. Helen went viral in 2018 with her legendary interview with Jordan Peterson. She's a brilliant interrogator and a thoughtful critic of the culture wars, wokeness, gender ideology and the far right. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Josh's Soap Box: Josh Is Getting Sued!
This week Josh reflects, in a somewhat heated way, on the surreal injustices of the justice system. Plus: Aussie-made shoulder-launched drone guns. And sharks in Sydney harbour. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sam Harris: What The Hell Happened?
Sam Harris is a best-selling writer, philosopher and neuroscientist who hosts one of the world's most influential intellectual podcasts, Making Sense. Josh wants to pin down, once and for all, Sam's feelings about his former associates in the "intellectual dark web" who've gone off the rails. They also discuss Elon, Twitter, and the best flavour of cookie. To subscribe to the premium podcast feed via substack head to: https://uncomfortableconversations.substack.com/subscribe Hosted on Acast. See...
Premium: Scott Adams - From The Archives
Scott Adams is the creator of the cartoon strip Dilbert. He rose to Twitter prominence ahead of the 2016 US election where he picked Trump as the winner, praising him as a master persuader. We leave Trump aside in this episode and focus on Scott's advice on creativity and success that he details in his 2014 book - How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
The Best Of Vol. 3: Kurt Fearnley, Me & Alice Dreger
For this last Best Of episode we have the amazing Kurt Fearnley - paralympian, media personalist and advocate, who brings an amazing perspective on the global experience of disability. Then, the show I get the most feedback on, my diatribe about gun laws. And finally, one of the world’s foremost experts on sex differences - the historian and bioethicist Alice Dreger. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Josh's Soap Box: Is It Racist To Ask Where You're From?
This week, Josh airs what's on his mind. Did the NFL star Damar Hamlin suffer cardiac arrest because he was vaccinated, or because he was smashed in the chest by six-foot-four, 220-pound receiver? Was the musical editor of The Simpsons, who died this week, the greatest TV composer of all time? We revisit the best-ever Simpsons songs to find out! Is there anything redeeming about seagulls? And as we learn new facts about the Buckingham Palace racism scandal, Josh finds himself confused....
The Best Of Vol. 2: Andrew Denton, Tim Flannery & Ana Marie Cox
The holiday interlude continues with our top podcast moments. Andrew Denton is a giant of Australian media. Now out of the limelight, he focuses much of his work on voluntary assisted dying advocacy. Tim Flannery - ecologist, explorer, and Australian of the Year winner brings us an amazing perspective on what it is to understand nature, and humanity’s place within it. And finally Ana Marie Cox - one of the most uncomfortable conversations of the last year. We argue about cancel culture from the ...