Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps
Episodes
“The Man Who Defied Trump” with Justin Amash
17 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Justin Amash was the first Republican member of congress to call for Donald Trump’s impeachment. He was subsequently described by Trump as “one of...
"The Problem With Covid Contrarianism" with Cathy Young
09 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Cathy Young is a former Boston Globe columnist and contributing editor at Reason. She writes a weekly column on politics, social issues and culture at...
"How I Lost Millions In Crypto" with Peter McCormack
02 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Peter made millions in crypto, lost millions in crypto, and bought an English soccer club with crypto. He now hosts the world's biggest podcast about ...
"Stop Being Such a F*%#ing Baby!" with David Frum
26 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
David Frum is the former George W Bush speechwriter who invented the phrase “an axis of evil”. He is now a senior editor at The Atlantic. Ho...
Everything You Need To Know About Joe Rogan
19 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's been a hell of a week. Josh is back from America and jumps in solo to discuss the post-Rogan Twitter fallout, Myocarditis fact checking, what pub...
"Can We Have Sex Back?" with Alice Dreger
13 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What’s sex? What's sexuality? What’s gender? Are trans women “real” women? Are woke activists expanding womanhood, or deranging it? Alice Dreg...
Ask Me Anything
14 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
For the last show of 2021, its about time we heard from you. Your questions, for Josh, answered. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more info...
"Did We Go Too Far?" with Brigid Delaney
07 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Did the pandemic turn Australia into a nation of paranoid, boot-licking dobbers? Brigid Delaney is a Guardian Australia columnist whose upcoming book ...
"Are We Training Victimhood?" with Dr. Dina McMillan
30 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The latest in of Permission To Think, a collaboration with the University of Technology Sydney - Josh speaks with social psychologist and the host of ...
"Why Eat Animals?" with Jamie Woodhouse
16 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Jamie Woodhouse is the founder of Sentientism, a movement for granting evidence, reason and compassion to all sentient beings. Hosted on Acast. See ac...
"Are Men Toxic?" with Clementine Ford
09 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Clementine Ford is Australia's most controversial, firebrand feminist. Her latest book is "How We Love". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy ...
"Wait But Why?" with Tim Urban
02 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Why are you here? Are we alone in the universe? Will we extinguish ourselves? Why do you procrastinate? And what does social media reveal about your c...
"Is Islam Sexist?" with Dr. Elham Manea
26 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When a Muslim girl wears a burqini to the beach, is that religious freedom, or sexist oppression? Dr. Elham Manea is a Yemeni professor who lives in S...
"Freedom For Girls" with Ayaan Hirsi Ali
19 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ayaan Hirsi Ali is one of the world's most prominent activists for the rights of women in Islam. She and Josh discuss coronavirus, immigration, father...
"Will Bitcoin Fail?" with Mark Carnegie
12 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
You mightn't expect the founder of a billion-dollar asset management company to be a crypto nerd. But Mark Carnegie is one of the few big-time ve...
"Corporations Go Woke" with John Safran
05 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Before Ali G and Borat, John Safran blew up Australian TV as a troublemaker extraordinaire. His new book "Puff Piece: How Philip Morris set ...
"What Is Creativity?" with Charlotte Wood
28 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
One of Australia's greatest novelists opens up about the pandemic, Twitter, and finding your voice amid the cacophony. Her new book is The Luminous So...
"Do Universities Punish Free Thinkers?" with Peter Boghossian
22 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Peter recently quit his job as an assistant professor of philosophy, saying that universities have sacrificed ideas for ideology. The more he spo...
"Permission to Think" with Prof. Alan Davison
22 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Technology Sydney, where Josh is a Professional Fellow, is launching a series of con...
Flashback: Norm Macdonald
15 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Comedy legend Norm Macdonald died today. Revisit his deranged 2015 interview with Josh on HuffPost Live. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mo...
"The Miracle of Science" with Tim Flannery
14 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Professor Tim Flannery received Australia's highest honour, the Australian Of The Year award, for his work as an ecological historian, explorer and en...
Todd Sampson - Bodyhacking Mastermind
07 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Todd Sampson is an adventurer, advertiser, and award-winning documentary-maker whose new TV show, Mirror Mirror, looks at body image dissatisfact...
"Has Australia Gone Too Far?" with Conor Friedersdorf
07 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Americans have been going craycray over Austraystray. From Fox News to social media, images of Australia's lockdowns are being presented as a descent ...
"When Will Lockdowns End?" with Dr Stephen Duckett
31 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As the Health Department Secretary, Dr Stephen Duckett was Australia's most senior health official. He now runs the health program at the think t...
Bonus Rant: Vaccines & Lockdowns, Oh My!
25 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Record vaccinations in NSW, the National Cabinet plan to re-open, vaccine hesitancy, Covid is here for good. What a time for some more bonus Covid mus...
"In Defence Of Boys" with Christina Hoff Sommers
24 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Christina Hoff Sommers is a feminist philosopher. She and Josh discuss gender, boys, cancel culture, and whether she is secretly her own Nixon-loving ...
"Are Psychedelics The Answer?" with James Mathison
17 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
James MathisonPsychedelic TV HostThe former host of Australian Idol makes a case for magic mushrooms in public life. Hosted on Acast. See acast....
"Time Management For Mortals" with Oliver Burkeman
10 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Oliver Burkeman describes himself is "unreasonably obsessed with the question of how people organise their days". He returns to the show for a chat ab...
"Story of a Survivor" with Stuart Diver
03 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
"Stuart Diver is the sole survivor of Australia's deadliest landslide. He was buried alive by a mountain of frozen sludge for 65 hours. His new podcas...
"Is Fiction Going Woke?" with Kat Rosenfield
25 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Kat is an author and culture critic. She and Josh discuss feminism, sexual assault, Woody Allen, and whether it's okay for a fantasy writer to discrim...
BONUS: Josh’s Covid Lockdown Thoughts
25 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With violent freedom protests, bickering states, a bungled vaccine rollout and over half of Australia's population in lockdown, its time to talk. Host...
Malcolm Turnbull
18 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Malcolm Turnbull was the 29th Prime Minister of Australia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"Is Politics Beyond Satire?" with Mark Humphries
11 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Mark Humphries the preeminent political satirist on Australian TV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"Toxic Taboos" with Jesse Singal
02 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the culture wars, Jesse Singal is either the world's supervillain or its superhero, depending on your point of view. His original Atlantic article ...
Tim Minchin Live - Part 2
25 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Part #2 of Josh's live show with musical comedy legend Tim Minchin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tim Minchin Live - Part 1
18 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Musical comedy legend Tim Minchin joins Josh live on stage for a sold-out podcast performance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informa...
"Botox Feminism?" with Jessie Stephens
11 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Is it feminist to f*#k with your face? Mamamia’s Jessie Stephens joins Josh on the comfy couch to unleash. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy fo...
Andrew Denton
04 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A giant of Australian media, Andrew Denton is a producer, writer and former television and radio star who now spends much of his time advocating for V...
"Will We Ever Re-Open?" with Prof. Mary-Louise McLaws
28 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Do lockdowns work? Will we reach herd immunity? Will Australia ever re-open to the world? As Melbourne endures another lockdown, Josh grills Australia...
"Is Israel Doomed?" with Chloe Valdary
21 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Chloe Valdary is the founder of The Theory of Enchantment, an anti-racism program. She and Josh discuss whether Israel can be redeemed. Hosted on Acas...
"The Death of Policy?" with John Hewson
14 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
He's been called "the best Prime Minister Australia never had". As Australia's Opposition Leader, John Hewson lost an unlosable election. Was his prob...
"Did The Left Create Trump?" with David Roth
07 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Just before Joe Biden's election, Josh sat down with the ferocious critic David Roth to discuss what Trump taught us about populism and power. Did wok...
Jessie Stephens joins the Comfy Couch
30 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Jessie is a writer, podcaster, and the assistant head of content at Mamamia. When, she wonders, did bitching on Twitter become a full-time career? Hos...
"Stop The Boats" with Dr Kim Huynh
23 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Border walls. Offshore detention. Kids in cages. What do we do about refugees? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"Abolish Political Parties" with John Opdycke
16 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine no Republicans. No Democrats. No Labor or Liberals. Would democracy flourish? Or corrode? John Opdycke is the president of Open Primaries, the...
Eddie Izzard
09 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
One of the Britain's most prolific and influential stand-up comics sits down with Josh to discuss death, humour, marathons, gender fluidity and the Am...
"Is Cancel Culture Real?" with Katie Herzog
02 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Katie is a journalist and one of the most insightful commentators on the modern culture wars. co-hosts the podcast "Blocked and Reported" with Jesse S...
"America and Guns"
26 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the past 10 days, more than 20 Americans have been killed by three gunmen in a string of mass shootings. How should we understand America's gun cur...
Darren McMullen joins the Comfy Couch
19 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Every other week Uncomfortable Conversations brings you a Comfy Couch episode, in which Josh and a friend chat about whatever is on their mind. This w...
"What Is Womanhood?" with Meghan Daum
12 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Meghan Daum is a feminist, firebrand, and former opinion columnist for The Los Angeles Times. Her podcast is The Unspeakable. Hosted on Acast. Se...
"What's Wrong With Men?" with Michael Ian Black
13 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Ian Black is one of America's most popular stand-up comics. His new book is "A Better Man: A (Mostly Serious) Letter to My Son." He and Josh d...
"The Madness Of Fame" with Osher Günsberg
20 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Osher is Australia's biggest TV star and the host of Australian Idol, The Bachelor, The Bachelorette and The Masked Singer. He opens up to Josh about ...
"Are You Awake?" with Sam Harris
28 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Sam Harris is a neuroscientist, philosopher and New York Times best-selling author. He and Josh wrestle with what it means to be self-aware. Hosted on...
"Will The Virus Win?" with virologist Peter Kolchinsky
02 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Peter Kolchinsky is a scientist and biotechnology investor, with a deep understanding of how viruses outsmart us. His company, RA Capital Management, ...
"Is Free Thought Dead?" with Claire Lehmann
25 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Claire is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Quillette, the magazine for dangerous ideas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information...
"Ignore the News!" with Oliver Burkeman
18 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Would we all be better off if we knew less about the world? If we took less, not more, responsibility for fixing distant problems? If we focused a bit...
"Am I Racist?" with Stan Grant
10 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Josh doesn't think he's racist. But maybe that's the surest proof that he is. Should he be cancelled? Should statues be torn down? Are race protests a...