Best Quillette Podcasts (2024)

1
'Making Britain Great Again' 21:20

1h ago21:20

21:20

Iona Italia talks to Sam Bowman about how to combat the economic stagnation and excess bureaucracy that are currently preventing the UK from reaching its full potential. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Quillette

1
'Making America British Again' by David A. Wilson 24:15

4h ago24:15

24:15

The story of William Cobbett and the American Revolutionary culture wars.By Quillette

1
An Honest Conversation About Colonialism and Australia's History with Nigel Biggar 43:45

20d ago43:45

43:45

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 pat…

1
The Campaign Against 'Settler Colonialism’ 30:09

1d ago30:09

30:09

Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay talks to author Adam Kirsch about the growing corps of academics and activists seeking to demonize ‘settler colonialists’ in North America, Australia—and especially Israel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Quillette

1
'Justice in Stockholm' by Roya Hakakian 33:36

2d ago33:36

33:36

Thirty-four years after the massacre of political prisoners in Iran, the conviction of Hamid Noury in Sweden has been a victory for accountability and for the truth.By Quillette

1
'The West is Next' by John Aziz 14:13

2d ago14:13

14:13

If we are to fight for liberty for everyone—including Muslims—we must be serious about being ready to stand up to Islamists like Hamas, who seek to revive Islamic imperialism.By Quillette

1
Canadian Bureaucracy and Its Discontents 21:47

5d ago21:47

21:47

Iona Italia talks to Nick Osmond-Jones about the impacts of some absurd DEI directives on Canadian public service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Quillette

1
'A History of Feminist Antisemitism' by Kara Jesella 37:51

7d ago37:51

37:51

The story of how activists and academics exchanged the struggle for universal female improvement for a politics of division and hatred.By Quillette

1
'The Case for Life on Mars' by Stephen Fleming. 22:43

8d ago22:43

22:43

Settling Mars isn’t just about making humanity a multi-planetary species. It is about improving life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for everyone on Earth.By Quillette

1
How Universities Should Regulate Contentious Speech 14:06

12d ago14:06

14:06

Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay speaks with prolific Harvard University legal scholar Cass Sunstein about his new book, Campus Free Speech: A Pocket Guide Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Quillette

1
'Blonde on Blonde' by Charlotte Allen. 55:02

15d ago55:02

55:02

Andrew Dominik’s much-maligned film about the life and death of a screen icon claws through the sentimental myth-making in search of terrible truths.By Quillette

1
'The Age of Amnesia' by Joel Kotkin 15:58

20d ago15:58

15:58

The spread of mass education may have exemplified the promise of liberal civilization. But, without an understanding and appreciation of what allowed it to flourish, it could also accelerate its dissolution.By Quillette

1
Unreliable Sources 21:36

20d ago21:36

21:36

Iona Italia talks to Jack Despain Zhou (aka "Tracing Woodgrains") about the decline of standards at Wikipedia as a result of the obsessive efforts of ideologically motivated editors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Quillette

1
The Children of the Revolution by James David Banker. 18:29

22d ago18:29

18:29

The Children of the Revolution by James David Banker. Read by William Laing. Mao Zedong activated China’s youth—unblemished and uncorrupted in heart and mind—to lead the struggle for purity.By Quillette

1
Why China Is Hiding the Horrors of Its Past by Nick Taber 12:45

22d ago12:45

12:45

Why China Is Hiding the Horrors of its Past: While the Chinese government continues to transform Xinjiang through its cultural genocide program aimed at eliminating the distinct identity of the Uyghur population, it is also putting a high priority on controlling the history of the region and its people. By Nick Taber. Read by Iona Italia.…

1
'White Lotus, Red Dragon—China’s History of Millenarian Dissent' by Aaron Sarin 19:19

23d ago19:19

19:19

White Lotus, Red Dragon—China’s History of Millenarian Dissent: When one woman refused and snapped at them to “go away,” they attacked her with a chair and mop handle. By Aaron Sarin. Read by Iona Italia.By Quillette

1
'Death of a Deluded Man' by John Aziz 14:05

29d ago14:05

14:05

'The Death of a Deluded Man' by John Aziz. Read by John Aziz. Yahya Sinwar should be remembered above all as a failure whose fetish for Jewish—and Palestinian—blood turned Gaza into dust and rubble.By Quillette

1
'Serfing the Future' by Joel Kotkin and Wendell Cox 20:50

25d ago20:50

20:50

'Serfing the Future' by Joel Kotkin and Wendell Cox. Read by William Laing.By Quillette

1
We Have Never Been Woke 13:14

28d ago13:14

13:14

Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay speaks with scholar Musa al-Gharbi, whose acclaimed new book analyses the rise of progressive ideological orthodoxy as a means for elites to signal status and accumulate ‘cultural capital.’ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Quillette

1
'The Fall of Beirut' by Art Keller 17:58

27d ago17:58

17:58

'The Fall of Beirut: Calling Hezbollah merely a terror group is too simplistic, and nothing in Lebanon is ever simple or easy to explain.' by Art Keller. Read by Iona Italia.By Quillette

1
7 October, One Year Later with David Benatar 39:24

1M ago39:24

39:24

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 Existe…

1
'America's Forgotten Crisis' by Michael J. Totten 22:43

1M ago22:43

22:43

'America's Forgotten Crisis: A terrific new account of America’s social and political turmoil during the 1910s and ’20s provides some much-needed perspective on the problems afflicting the country today.' by Michael J. Totten. Read by Iona Italia.By Quillette

1
The Seven Laws of Pessimism by Maarten Boudry 20:37

1M ago20:37

20:37

Have we just lived through one of the best years in human history? As we look at 2023 through the rearview mirror, I think that’s a defensible claim. In fact, the same thing could have been said at the end of pretty much every year since the beginning of the millennium (with the exception of the disastrous pandemic years of 2020 and 2021). Never be…

1
In Defence of Beauty with Megan Gafford 20:41

1M ago20:41

20:41

Iona Italia talks to artist Megan Gafford about how we have come to value statement-making over beauty and craftsmanship in art and architecture. To listen to the full episode, please become a Quillette subscriber https://quillette.com/#/portal/signup Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

1
'I Blew Up My Lucrative Public-Service Career (And So Can You)' by Nick Osmond-Jones 34:29

1M ago34:29

34:29

'I Blew Up My Lucrative Public-Service Career (And So Can You): A veteran of British Columbia’s public-sector workforce explains how DEI enforcers forced him to choose between keeping his job and honouring his values.' by Nick Osmond-Jones. Read by Iona ItaliaBy Quillette

1
'Towards a Post-Hamas Future' by John Aziz 11:53

1M ago11:53

11:53

"Towards a Post-Hamas Future: The events of 7 October did not benefit Palestinians in any way." Written by John Aziz. Read by John Aziz.By Quillette

1
'The Women of 7 October' by Iona Italia 8:22

1M ago8:22

8:22

'The Women of 7 October' by Iona Italia. Read by Iona Italia.By Quillette

1
Reading Hannah Arendt with Roger Berkowitz 1:11:56

1M ago1:11:56

1:11:56

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 Z…

1
A Brief History of Communism with Sean McMeekin 19:35

2M ago19:35

19:35

Jonathan Kay speaks with Bard College historian Sean McMeekin about his new book, To Overthrow the World: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Communism. To listen to the full episode, please become a Quillette subscriber https://quillette.com/#/portal/signup Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

1
'For a Time, a Pit Bull Gave Me Back My Son' by Steve Salerno 19:43

1M ago19:43

19:43

For a Time, a Pit Bull Gave Me Back My Son: If I couldn’t openly love him, I would love what he loved. By Steve Salerno. Read by William Laing.By Quillette

1
'A Conspiracy Theory of Connotations' by Oliver Traldi 15:16

1M ago15:16

15:16

'A Conspiracy Theory of Connotations: The obsessive policing of language in the name of progress relies on magical thinking.' by Oliver Traldi. Read by William Laing.By Quillette

1
'The Return of the Progressive Atrocity' by Susie Linfield 37:47

1M ago37:47

37:47

'The Return of the Progressive Atrocity: It is the responsibility of Western activists to know who and what they support, and to separate themselves—openly and decisively—from programs and regimes that are predicated on violence and repression.' by Susie Linfield. Read by Iona Italia.By Quillette

1
'In Defence of Stoicism' by Iona Italia. 40:00

2M ago40:00

40:00

'In Defence of Stoicism' by Iona Italia. Narrated by Iona Italia. Stoicism is a workout that builds emotional strength, a caulking of the timbers to enable us to weather the coming storms—a preparation we make precisely because the ocean voyage is so rewarding.By Quillette

1
'Remembering 9 Thermidor, the End of the Terror' by Cathy Young. 39:54

2M ago39:54

39:54

'Remembering 9 Thermidor, the End of the Terror' by Cathy Young. Read by William Laing.By Quillette

1
'Trans Rights, Israel and the Progressive Circus' with Brianna Wu 1:33:14

2M ago1:33:14

1:33:14

'Trans Rights, Israel and the Progressive Circus' with Brianna Wu. Iona Italia talks to Democratic political campaigner Brianna Wu about finding a more sensible approach to trans rights and combating progressive insanity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Quillette

1
'The Totalitarian Artist' by Megan Gafford 43:14

2M ago43:14

43:14

'The Totalitarian Artist: Politics vs Beauty: After Duchamp, the art world came to view the pursuit of beauty as naïve and gravitated toward political art in their search for meaning. But this is a Faustian bargain: you can have meaning, but you do not get to make it for yourself.' by Megan Gafford. Read by Iona Italia.…

1
Escaping Cuba with Justo Antonio Triana 1:02:25

2M ago1:02:25

1:02:25

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 o…

1
'Tragedy and Half-Truths: A Gaza Diary' by Benny Morris 26:44

2M ago26:44

26:44

'Tragedy and Half-Truths: A Gaza Diary' by Benny Morris. Published in Quillette.com on 19 September 2024. Narrated by Iona Italia.By Quillette

1
New Theism and Liberalism vs Realism with Matt Johnson 56:46

2M ago56:46

56:46

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-…

1
'Answers to 12 Bad Anti-Free Speech Arguments' by Greg Lukianoff 20:25

2M ago20:25

20:25

'Answers to 12 Bad Anti-Free Speech Arguments: How to effectively counter some perennial arguments against free speech.' Written by Greg Lukianoff. Narrated by Iona Italia.By Quillette

1
Tracing the Rise of Radicalized Anti-Zionism on American Campuses 44:39

2M ago44:39

44:39

Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay speaks with author Paul Berman about the lingering influence of ’Black Power’ advocate Stokely Carmichael, who once infamously claimed that ’the only good Zionist is a dead Zionist.’ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Quillette

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quillette Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide