Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps

Tyler Cowen, a renowned economics professor at George Mason University and influential blogger at Marginal Revolution, dives into pressing topics like urban inequality, critiquing traditional solutions like rent control. He discusses the nuanced relationship between immigration policies and economic sustainability amid societal concerns. Cowen also explores the tensions around free speech in academia and the intersection of AI with intellectual discourse, weaving in personal insights about happiness and the future of knowledge.

Sarah Haider, co-founder of Ex-Muslims of North America and outspoken advocate for those leaving Islam, opens up about her transformative journey from atheism to exploring spirituality. She addresses the unsettling religious undertones within progressive ideologies, revealing her disillusionment with the existing atheist movement. The conversation also dives into the emotional complexities of belief, the struggle for meaningful dialogue in cultural debates, and the moral imperatives that shape ethical frameworks in today's society.

G'day from New York City. We've been sitting on this Easter egg for some time, warming it up under our feathery little tooshes. It's now time to let the warm yolk of intellectual invigoration ooze over your grateful noggins. It's time for the SZEPS LIVE WORLD TOUR. Yes, global mega-giant publishing behemoth Substack has tapped this li'l ole show for Substack's first-ever Live-Streamed Around-the-World Podcast Marathon. That's a LOT of hyphens. Six cities. Twelve days. Twenty-four time zones. No filter. For the next two weeks, Josh will go head to head, live, with some of the world’s most fascinating minds before a global audience in back-to-back foreign locales. From London to Los Angeles, New York to Malibu, Josh and his long-suffering producer, Jono, are hopscotching the planet to visit a parade of iconoclasts and intellectual troublemakers, broadcasting raw, unfiltered conversations sometimes multiple times a day. To enjoy every morsel, subscribe for free to get notified whenever we go live. You'll be able to watch every episode as it streams in real time. To catch up afterwards, about half the shows will be exclusive for paid subscribers. For the price of a cup of coffee a month, you'll get the whole enchilada. All will be available on your podcast app too. The tour's centrepiece will be a high-voltage live event at New York’s iconic Comedy Cellar – the stomping ground of Seinfeld, Dave Chappelle and Robin Williams – on Tuesday July 29th at 6pm ET (11pm in London, 3pm in LA, 8am Wed in Sydney). Put it in your calendar. It'll be a no-holds-barred panel discussion with some of the biggest names in New York journalism. Your normal podcast release schedule may be a little wonky while we fly blind around the planet, streaming live with no safety net, chasing the most fascinating minds… while jet lag fries ours. But you're a big kid. You can handle it. Today's episode is the first cab off the rank - a livestream from a Brooklyn rooftop with panoramic views of Manhattan and the one-&-only  Jesse Singal, co-host of the smash hit podcast Blocked and Reported, and one of America's most courageous reporters on youth gender medicine. Buckle up, humans, for the most audacious live-streaming event in Substack's history.

Osher Günsberg, a well-known Australian TV host and mental wellness advocate, engages in a candid discussion about navigating fame and personal struggles. He shares insights on managing anxiety, depression, and the misconceptions surrounding success. The conversation touches on the importance of resilience, confronting personal pain, and finding meaning in life beyond surface achievements. With humor and heartfelt anecdotes, Osher emphasizes the need for self-reflection and the pursuit of genuine fulfillment in a fast-paced world.

Dr. Billy Garvey, a leading developmental paediatrician and founder of Guiding Growing Minds, dives into pressing issues surrounding childhood mental health. He and host Josh Szeps tackle the surge in ADHD and anxiety, questioning the impact of modern parenting and education. They explore masculinity, the challenges of diagnosing developmental disorders, and the complexities of neurodiversity in schools. The need for a balance between unconditional love and allowing freedom in parenting is also discussed, making for a thought-provoking conversation on raising resilient kids.

Aidan Morrison, Director of Energy Research and data scientist with postgrad physics training, makes the case for nuclear as a scalable, controllable, carbon-free thermal backbone. He critiques renewables’ cost comparisons and intermittency, explores transmission and storage limits, land impacts, and financing challenges. Short-term batteries and limited gas backstops feature in his preferred mix.

Are you defined by your identities? Where do you rank in the hierarchy of your social group, either online or in real life? How are the boundaries of your communities policed? By whom? In an era of social-media mobs, splintering communities and anti-immigrant ideas, the way we sort ourselves into in-groups and out-groups is a fascinating field of social psycology. Professor Jetten is an expert in the psychology of inclusion and exclusion, radicalisation, social dynamics, and the ways in which “who you are” is shaped by “who you are with.” Professor Jetten is from the Netherlands, but currently works at the University of Queensland in Australia. Watch this conversation on YouTube. And you’re missing out on our best ad-free content if you haven’t popped over to the Uncomfy Convos Substack page. http://twitter.com/joshzepps http://instagram.com/joshszeps/ http://tiktok.com/@uncomfyconversations

Katy Faust, a family-values activist and founder of Them Before Us, dives into the contentious topic of gay parenting. She argues for prioritizing children's rights to biological parents, challenging the norms of surrogacy and adoption. The discussion also touches on the complexities of modern family dynamics, the implications of increasing divorce rates, and the ethical considerations surrounding reproductive technologies. Katy's views prompt a critical examination of societal values and the meaning of family in today's world.

Toby Walsh, professor of AI and chief scientist at UNSW, briefly introduces his work and book. He and Josh probe AI’s impact on jobs, creativity, and whether current models edge toward AGI. They debate hallucinations, language as the core of intelligence, AI-driven science like protein folding, and ethical dilemmas around genetics and embryo selection.

Is there something broken about a world where some people are absurdly, insanely rich? Or is inequality the price we pay for innovation? What do Bezos, Gates, Musk & Zuck tell us about what's malfunctioning in our societies? Would be better with no billionaires, or is the anti-rich movement an impoverished politics of envy? Professor Carl Rhodes was the dean of the business school at the University of Technology, Sydney. His new book is "Stinking Rich: The Four Myths of the Good Billionaire". Carl and Josh debate fairness, democratic socialism, Bernie Sanders, Steve Jobs, diversity, whiteness, wokeness and wealth. Watch this conversation on YouTube. And you’re missing out on our best ad-free content if you haven’t popped over to the Uncomfy Convos Substack page. http://twitter.com/joshzepps http://instagram.com/joshszeps/ http://tiktok.com/@uncomfyconversations