Shows / Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps
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
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps"The University Echo Chamber" with Katy Barnett
Permission to Think is a collaboration with the University of Technology, Sydney, where we debate the vigour, rigour and freedom of the academy. Today, the…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps"Will A.I. Take Over?" with Stephen Marche
The world’s leading A.I. researchers have released an open letter warning of the “existential threat” the technology poses to human civilisation. Stephen…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh SzepsPremium: A First Date With Josh
Do you know Josh? You may be surprised to hear his surprise when the show’s producer, Stefan Posthuma, turns the tables and puts Josh on the spot with some…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh SzepsRichard Dawkins: LIVE!
In front of a packed crowd at a sold-out Brisbane City Hall, Josh interviews the world's most influential living biologist, Richard Dawkins.
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps"Why Conspiracy Theories Work" with Michael Shermer
Michael Shermer is a titan of the rationalist movement. He’s been on Oprah. He’s been on Donahue. He’s argued on TV with Deepak Chopra. He had a column in…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh SzepsPremium: When Josh Met Susan Sarandon
Susan Sarandon is an Academy Award winning actor, philanthropist and progressive activist. She joined Josh on his old TV show to talk about her rise in…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps"The Life of a Dominatrix" with Eva Oh
Eva is a high-end dominatrix: A sex worker who flies around the world, servicing people’s most carnal desires. What makes them -- and her -- do what they do?1
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh SzepsPremium: Ask Me Anything
What are your non-negotiable travel essentials? What catch phrase would you put on a billboard? What are your most left-wing and right-wing views? From deep…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps"Is Polarisation Good?" with Shadi Hamid
Shadi Hamid is a Muslim-American writer and professor whose latest book is “The Problem of Democracy”. In his new Substack, Wisdom of Crowds, he makes the case…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh SzepsPremium: 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.
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps"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…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps"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…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh SzepsPremium: 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…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps"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…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh SzepsPremium: 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)…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps"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…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps"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…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh SzepsPremium: 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…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps"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…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh SzepsPremium: 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…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps"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…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh SzepsPremium: 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…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps"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…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps"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…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh SzepsPremium: 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…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps"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…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh SzepsPremium: 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…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps"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…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh SzepsPremium: 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…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps"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…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps"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…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh SzepsPremium: 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…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps"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…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh SzepsJosh'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…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh SzepsSam 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…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh SzepsPremium: 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…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh SzepsThe 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…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh SzepsJosh'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…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh SzepsThe 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…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh SzepsAsk Me Anything - 2022
Well what a year it has been! And as we end every year here on Uncomfortable Conversations, it’s time for me to answer your questions. What have you been…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh SzepsThe Best Of Vol. 1: Tim Urban, Clementine Ford & Malcolm Turnbull
It's time for a Christmas interlude, the best parts of our favourite uncomfortable conversations. Tim Urban is still probably my all-time favourite guest. The…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh SzepsPremium: Rutger Bregman - From The Archives
The Guardian has called Rutger Bregman "the Dutch wunderkind of new ideas". He has a forward thinking, earnest approach to the small task of making the world a…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps"The Intellectual Dark Web" with Eric Weinstein
Eric runs the investment firm of the right-wing multi-billionaire Peter Thiel, the co-founder of PayPal and the first outside investor in Facebook. Yet Eric is…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh SzepsPremium: Louis Theroux - From The Archives
On this special episode from Josh's archive, he speaks with legendary British documentarian Louis Theroux. For decades, Louis has thrust himself into strange…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps"A Very Sober Christmas" with Bridget Phetasy
Bridget is a podcasting and publishing phenomenon. She and Josh discuss everything from Peruvian ayahuasca ceremonies, to Joe Rogan, to cancel culture, to the…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps"Who Screwed Millennials?" with Tom Ballard
Tom Ballard is one of Australia's most successful comedians. He may be the millennials’ most prominent, hilarious voice of fury against capitalism and boomers…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh SzepsJoin the Josh Club!
We're launching a new Uncomfortable Conversations community. Get loads more content for free! This is the most important thing you'll hear this month. Don't…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps"The Fallout of #MeToo" with Kat Rosenfield
Kat is a feminist who takes no bullshit. She created a stir with her piece “Why I Keep Getting Mistaken for a Conservative”. She and Josh discuss the…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps"Off The Rails?" with James Lindsay
James Lindsay is one of the most controversial figures on the American right. He was permanently banned from Twitter in August, until Elon reinstated him this…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps"Is Everything A Hallucination?" with Anil Seth
When you see the colour blue, is it the same as when I see the colour blue? How does your brain create an image of the world... and of yourself? Dive into the…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh SzepsJosh's Soap Box: What I Got Wrong About Covid
Josh is being eviscerated on social media for spreading pro-vaccine misinformation. Did he? What did he, and we, get wrong about Covid? Hosted on Acast. See…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps"The People vs Democracy" with Yascha Mounk
How do you stitch together diverse immigrant societies into a common future? How do you avoid collapsing into quarrelling tribes? Yascha Mounk is an optimistic…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh SzepsJosh’s Soap Box: Twitter & Antisemitism
Josh reflects on Elon Musk, Kanye, Israel, and the rise of online Jew-hate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps"Big Tech & Free Speech" with Jordan Guiao
What will Elon Musk do with Twitter? Who wants to live inside Mark Zuckerberg's Metaverse? Should Facebook censor hate speech? Jordan Guiao lived and worked in…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh SzepsJosh’s Soap Box: Kanye, hijabs and Taylor Swift
Josh reflects on Kanye's antisemitic meltdown, Taylor Swift's supposed fat shaming video and activism in Iran. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps"Maoism In The West" with Prof. David Martin Jones
David got his PhD in political thought from the London School of Economics and now teaches at King’s College London. He was a political science lecturer at the…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps"Should We Talk To Nazis?" with Academy Award winner Emile Sherman & Dr. Lloyd Vogelman
Emile is the Academy Award-winning producer of Lion, The King’s Speech, Rabbit-Proof Fence and The Power of the Dog. His cousin is a high-flying corporate…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps"Are Women And Men The Same?" with Louise Perry
Should women aspire to the same things as men? Or have they been betrayed? Louise says we lie to young women about who they are and what they should want…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh SzepsBONUS: "Fact Check" with Jesse Singal
On the previous episode of Uncomfortable Conversations, the trans activist Dianna Anderson alleged bad journalism by Jesse Singal, who wrote the bombshell 2018…
Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps"Is Gender Made-Up?" with Dianna E. Anderson
Dianna E. Anderson is a gender non-binary writer and activist whose latest book is “In Transit: Being Non-Binary in a World of Dichotomies”. They and Josh…