Quillette Podcast
The Quillette Podcast is a platform for rigorous, academic discussions rooted in common sense and free inquiry. Non-dogmatic and grounded in liberal values, the podcast serves as a beacon for thoughtful conversation on science, politics, philosophy, and culture. Quillette prides itself on intellectual honesty, avoiding ideological extremism in favor of evidence-based reasoning and progress. Hosted by leading voices in academia and journalism, past guests include evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, and journalist Douglas Murray, among others. Expect candid conversations that promote common sense and challenge anti-science and conspiratorial narratives from both the far left and right.
51
Should Imane Khelif be allowed to box against w...
Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay speaks with University of Manchester Developmental Biologist Emma Hilton about Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who won the gold medal in the women's welterweight event at the 2024 Summer Olympics, despite widely reported indications that Khelif may be biologically male.
24 min
52
How Gender Activists Took Over a Scottish Rape-...
Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay talks to writer Joan Smith about the scandals that unfolded at Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre under the leadership of its male trans-identified CEO, Mridul Wadhwa
35 min
53
'How We Form Our Political Beliefs' with Oliver...
Iona Italia talks to Oliver Traldi about his new book, ‘Political Beliefs: A Philosophical Introduction.’
90 min
54
'Language vs. Reality' with Nick Enfield
Iona Italia interviews linguistic anthropologist Nick Enfield about why language is good for lawyers and bad for scientists.
69 min
55
The Freedom to Blaspheme
Jonathan Kay speaks to fellow podcast host Kushal Mehra about the ‘eerie similarities’ between censorship campaigns in India and Canada.
32 min
56
'Life on Mars' with Robert Zubrin
Iona Italia talks to Robert Zubrin, who argues that Mars offers an extraordinary wealth of social and intellectual opportunities.
80 min
57
Protest? Polite Pass
Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay speaks with New York Times columnist Pamela Paul about why she’s got better ways to change the world than standing around yelling slogans
33 min
58
'Parsi Bombay Then and Now' with Nev March
Iona Italia talks to Nev March about her novel, Murder in Old Bombay, and about the Zoroastrians of Bombay, past and present.
89 min
59
Justin Trudeau’s Ominous Online Harms Act: ‘Min...
Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay talks to Atlantic Magazine staff writer Conor Friedersdorf about an alarmingly censorious government bill that would allow officials to punish Canadians for things they haven’t done yet.
18 min
60
Supporting Trans People Without Denying the Fac...
Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay talks to Duke University law school professor (and former U.S. National Collegiate athletic champion) Doriane Lambelet Coleman about her new book, “On Sex and Gender”
39 min
61
Technology Is Not the Problem
Iona Italia talks to Timandra Harkness about her new book, on our ambivalent relationship with personalised technology.
64 min
62
The (Culture) War Diaries of Nellie Bowles
Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay speaks with ‘Morning After the Revolution’ author Nellie Bowles about her tragicomic journalistic adventures amid progressive true believers—from the offices of The New York Times to the streets of San Francisco
50 min
63
'Recovery from Rape' with Larissa Phillips
Quillette podcast host Iona Italia talks to Larissa Phillips about the best ways to prevent rape and promote victims' recovery
58 min
64
Experiencing Autogynephilia
Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay talks to self-described 'Transsexual Apostate’ Debbie Hayton about the link between sexual self-attraction and transgender self-identification.
49 min
65
Fighting Back Against Progressive ‘Neo-Racism’
Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay talks to writer Coleman Hughes about his acclaimed new book, ‘The End of Race Politics Arguments for a Colorblind America’
41 min
66
Creating a Safe Space for ‘Problematic’ Women
Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay speaks with fellow podcaster Meghan Daum about The Unspeakeasy.
39 min
67
Is Israel Really Committing Genocide in Gaza?
University of Florida historian Norman Goda tells Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay why he isn’t persuaded by South Africa’s claims against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
45 min
68
Leaving MAGA
Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay speaks with Rich Logis, a one-time fervent Donald Trump supporter who’s now renounced his MAGA beliefs—and is trying to help others do the same.
30 min
69
The Fine Line Between Denouncing ‘Settler Colon...
Atlantic magazine writer Michael Powell talks to Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay about his latest article—‘The Curious Rise of Settler Colonialism and Turtle Island’—in which he explains how activists are weaponizing fashionable academic doctriness to delegitimize the existence of Israel, the United States, and other Western societies.
32 min
70
How ‘Intersectional Feminism’ Got Hijacked by Men
Veteran feminist activist, author, and pundit Julie Bindel talks to Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay about the need to protect hard-won women’s rights from gender ideologues.
45 min
71
The Extraordinary Life and Legacy of Justinian
Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay talks to Cambridge University historian Peter Sarris about Justinian the Great, the lowborn sixth-century Byzantine emperor who remade Roman law, suppressed Christian heresies, built architectural wonders, and reconquered lost lands.
66 min
72
The October 7 Terrorist Attacks, in Historical ...
Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay talks to influential Israeli historian Benny Morris about Hamas’ acts of mass murder, the Israeli response, and the future of Gaza.
25 min
73
Eric Kaufmann’s New ‘Centre for Heterodox Socia...
Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay speaks with academic Eric Kaufmann about cancel culture, switching universities, and why academics need to have honest conversations about the down side of immigration.
37 min
74
The Extraordinary Life of Tom Nash aka DJ Hookie
Quillette editor and podcast host Iona Italia talks with speaker, DJ, and quadruple amputee Tom Nash about his new book, ‘Hook, Line, and Sinner.’
66 min
75
Parents with Inconvenient Truths about Trans-Id...
Quillette podcast host Jonathan Kay talks to psychotherapist and book author Stella O’Malley, and parent ‘Josie A.,’ about the need to heed parents’ voices before ‘affirming’ a child’s desire for gender-transition therapies
44 min