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PODCAST

Quillette Cetera

Quillette"s Zoe Booth, sits down with a guest to discuss some of the best Quillette articles from the week + more. Common themes include gender issues, feminism, free speech, evolutionary psychology, philosophy, politics, science and more.

news news commentary

All Episodes

73:20

Exposing the Qatar Lobby: Chama Mechtaly on Islamism,...

Quillette Cetera ·

2025/11/14

Chama Mechtaly is a Moroccan-American artist, activist, and policy advisor whose work sits at the intersection of cultural preservation, deradicalisation, and Middle Eastern diplomacy.Born in Casablanca in 1992 to a Muslim mother and a Jewish father of Amazigh heritage, she draws on her complex identity to promote dialogue and coexistence between Muslim and Jewish communities throughout North Africa and the Gulf. She recently organised the first-ever Abraham Accords Deradicalisation Summit, where

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52:49

Why Do Women Orgasm? With Evolutionary Psychologist...

Quillette Cetera ·

2025/10/31

Zoe Booth speaks with Robert King, a psychology lecturer and researcher at University College Cork, whose work explores human sexual behaviour through the lens of evolutionary psychology and behavioural ecology.Their conversation centres on the evolution of female orgasm—its potential adaptive significance, its neglect within scientific literature, and the cultural forces that continue to shape women's sexual experiences. King discusses the use of animal models in studying human sexuality, the

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56:09

Romance Across the Divide with David Christopher Kaufman

Quillette Cetera ·

2025/10/17

Journalist and former New York Post editor David Kaufman joins Quillette’s Zoe Booth to discuss his viral essay, The Art of Middle Eastern Pillow Talk, in which he recounts an unexpected romantic encounter with a Palestinian man that leads to a frank, civil conversation about Zionism and “genocide” in the aftermath of October 7th.They also explore the politics of civility and why New York politician Zohran Mamdani has become a symbol of post-October 7th populism. Along the way, Kaufman reflects on

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98:00

How Intrasexual Competition Suppresses Female...

Quillette Cetera ·

2025/10/02

In this episode of the Quillette Podcast, host Zoe Booth speaks with behavioural scientist Dr Dani Sulikowski about the sociocultural and evolutionary drivers behind collapsing fertility rates in Western societies. Drawing on emerging research and data from her own lab, Dr Sulikowski explores how intersexual competition among women, shifting gender norms, and declining testosterone levels in men may be contributing to a wider pattern of reproductive decline.Their conversation covers the psychology

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68:43

Robot Ethics and Colonial Legacies with Sean Welsh

Quillette Cetera ·

2025/09/18

Sean Welsh is one of Quillette’s most wide-ranging contributors, having written on subjects as varied as artificial intelligence, Middle Eastern politics, and colonial history. Trained in philosophy and employed as a computer programmer, Welsh describes writing as a pursuit of curiosity rather than a career—a way to explore the questions that interest him.In this conversation, he speaks with Zoe Booth about the breadth of his intellectual interests: from the ethics of robotics and the economic

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55:09

Leaving the Woke Cult with Anthony Rispo

Quillette Cetera ·

2025/09/04

In this episode of the Quillette Cetera podcast, host Zoe Booth is joined by Anthony Rispo—a writer, independent researcher, and co-host of The Discourse Lab podcast. Anthony holds a degree in psychology from Columbia University, where he specialised in social cognition and sociopolitical behaviour. His academic research has explored narrative, perspective-taking, and autism, and he founded Columbia’s Heterodox Academy Campus Community to promote open inquiry and viewpoint diversity.Zoe first

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51:45

Adam Szetela on How Cancel Culture and Sensitivity...

Quillette Cetera ·

2025/08/22

In this episode of Quillette Cetera, Zoe Booth speaks with Harvard fellow and Cornell PhD Adam Szetela—author of new book That Book Is Dangerous: How Moral Panic, Social Media, and the Culture Wars Are Remaking Publishing (MIT Press, 2025).A working-class kid turned literary insider, Szetela exposes what he calls “the sensitivity era”: a cultural climate in which books are cancelled before they’re published, authors are shamed into grovelling apologies, and sensitivity readers act as ideological

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71:47

Can We Regulate Online Hate Without Killing Free...

Quillette Cetera ·

2025/08/05

In this episode, Dr. Andre Oboler—CEO of the Online Hate Prevention Institute and a global expert on antisemitism, hate speech, and online extremism—joins Zoe Booth to unpack the surge in antisemitic hate speech since October 7, 2023,.Dr. Oboler discusses recent antisemitic attacks on Australian synagogues, and his role as an expert witness in the landmark Wissam Haddad hate speech case, which tested the limits of Australia’s racial vilification laws. He critiques the failure of major social media

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38:20

Masculinity and Political Extremism with Sociologist...

Quillette Cetera ·

2025/07/14

This episode explores how masculinity, identity, and marginalisation can drive young men toward political and religious extremism. Drawing on research with Australian Muslims and broader work on the “Manosphere,” the conversation covers honour cultures, online radicalisation, misogyny, and the emotional undercurrents linking movements from jihadism to the far right. Also discussed: the social impact of economic stagnation, and how healthier models of masculinity might offer a way forward.Dr Joshua

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77:57

Discussing the Iran-Israel War with an Iranian...

Quillette Cetera ·

2025/06/17

As missiles fly between Tehran and Tel Aviv, I’m joined by Iranian dissident Danial Taghaddos to make sense of a rapidly escalating war—and what it means for the future of Iran, Israel, and the region. Danial moved to Australia in 2018 and became politically active during the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests. A royalist and advocate for a return to constitutional monarchy under the Pahlavi dynasty, he’s emerged as a compelling voice in the Iranian diaspora, challenging both the Islamic Republic and the

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44:04

The Truth About Narcissistic Personality Disorder...

Quillette Cetera ·

2025/06/12

In this episode, Quillette’s Zoe Booth sits down with Dr Giancarlo Dimaggio—an internationally recognised psychiatrist and psychotherapist best known for his work on metacognitive therapy and the treatment of personality disorders. Based in Rome, Dr Dimaggio is the co-founder of the Centre for Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy and has published extensively on narcissistic, borderline, and avoidant personality disorders. With a Hirsch index of 56, he is one of Italy’s most highly cited

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42:45

The Biggest Taboo in Academia: Israel, with Maarten...

Quillette Cetera ·

2025/05/27

Maarten Boudry is a Belgian philosopher of science and a prominent public intellectual known for his work on pseudoscience, secularism, and ideological bias. He is a research professor at Ghent University and a vocal advocate for free inquiry and Enlightenment values.In this episode, Zoe Booth speaks with Maarten Boudry about the growing discomfort around discussing Israel in academic settings—particularly following the October 7 Hamas attacks. Maarten shares how the backlash to Israel's response

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57:41

From Languishing to Flourishing, Dr. Matthew Iasiello...

Quillette Cetera ·

2025/04/27

Mental health isn’t just about avoiding illness—it’s about learning how to thrive. In this episode, mental health researcher Dr. Matthew Iasiello explains the “dual-continuum” model: a framework that sees mental illness and well-being as distinct but connected. With insights from his podcast Researching Happy and his work at SAHMRI and Be Well Co, Matt joins Zoe to unpack the idea of languishing, why we need better ways to measure well-being, and how culture shapes our mental health.Learn more

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40:50

Australian Election 2025: The Nuclear Debate with...

Quillette Cetera ·

2025/04/23

In this conversation, Zoe Booth speaks with Will Shackel, an 18-year-old energy advocate and founder of Nuclear for Australia, a youth-led campaign pushing for the inclusion of nuclear power in the country’s energy mix. They discuss the rising cost of electricity and the structural challenges facing the national grid. Shackel makes the case for nuclear energy—particularly small modular reactors—as a reliable, low-emission solution. Together, they explore the history of Australia’s nuclear ban, the

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53:03

My Experience Working With Justin Trudeau: Jonathan Kay

Quillette Cetera ·

2025/01/13

Quillette's Senior Editor, Jonathan Kay reflects on his time ghostwriting Justin Trudeau’s memoir and shares his take on Trudeau’s political trajectory—from golden boy to polariser-in-chief. We get into the highs of his early leadership, his pivot to hardcore social progressivism, the fallout from the truckers’ protest, and the growing anxiety around immigration. Kay also weighs in on the rise of Pierre Poilievre, the new conservative contender shaking up Canada’s political scene.Learn more about

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40:49

Talking Far-Right Extremism and the Middle East with...

Quillette Cetera ·

2024/11/29

Richard Hanania is an American political scientist and commentator, known for his right-wing perspectives and as president of the Center for the Study of Partisanship and Ideology. He faced controversy in 2023 when his past writings under a pseudonym advocating white nationalism resurfaced, which he has since disavowed. His book, The Origins of Woke, critiques identity politics and has sparked both praise and criticism.In this conversation, Richard shares his journey from academia to becoming a

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43:45

An Honest Conversation About Colonialism and...

Quillette Cetera ·

2024/10/29

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 patriot, far-left activism, cancel culture, and whether we should be ashamed of our colonial past.I deeply enjoyed Nigel's 2023 book, Colonialism: A Moral

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39:24

7 October, One Year Later with David Benatar

Quillette Cetera ·

2024/10/10

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 Existence—which argues that bringing new life into the world inevitably leads to suffering.In addition to his work on antinatalism, Benatar has written

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71:56

Reading Hannah Arendt with Roger Berkowitz

Quillette Cetera ·

2024/10/04

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 Zionism, anti-Semitism, and the importance of friendship and disagreement in politics. Berkowitz emphasizes the need for critical thinking and engagement

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62:25

Escaping Cuba with Justo Antonio Triana

Quillette Cetera ·

2024/09/24

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 on the different social classes in Cuba and the difficulties they encountered in academia, compounded by political indoctrination and severely limited

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57 results

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