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Quillette Cetera

Zoe Sankey

Quillette's Zoe Sankey sits down each fortnight with scientists, writers, activists, and independent thinkers to interrogate the ideas shaping — and dividing — the Western world. From evolutionary psychology and gender to cancel culture, free speech, Islamism, and the collapse of progressive orthodoxies, no topic is too contentious and no question is off limits.

Guests have included policy researchers, evolutionary biologists, political dissidents, and some of the sharpest heterodox thinkers writing today.

If you're tired of being told what to think, this is the podcast for you.

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  • 22 episodes
  • Avg 1 hr 8 min
  • English

Episodes 22

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  • Friday · 53 min

    Why Populism Ends in Disaster with Richard Hanania

    Richard Hanania is a political scientist and president of the Center for the Study of Partisanship and Ideology. He spent about a decade as one of the most influential voices on the online right — first writing pseudonymously in the alt-right, later as one of the intellectual influences on the Silicon Valley tech right. Then he watched his own ideas take power, and changed his mind. His new book is Kakistocracy: Why Populism Ends in Disaster. Kakistocracy is Greek for rule by the worst. The argument inside it is one very few people are willing to make right now: that Western elites are not overrated but underrated, and that our institutions work far better than we give them credit for. Zoe and Richard get into Australia's populist surge, what actually makes someone an elite, the backlash against skilled immigration and the H-1B fight in the States, whether Sydney's housing crisis is really about immigration, and what frightens him most — which turns out to have a lot to do with fertility. Also: is Zoe an elite? Are you? There's a test. 00:00 Who is Richard Hanania 02:27 The case that elites are underrated 04:50 What actually makes someone an elite 07:04 Do people care about the truth? 08:45 When federal bureaucrats became shitposters 09:38 Populism as rule by the id 11:33 Australia's populist surge 15:57 The awkward part: immigration 18:45 Australian vs American assimilation 21:46 Is Pauline Hanson a serious person? 23:33 Getting elites to take immigration seriously 26:06 Cofnas, Arday and academic gatekeeping 30:03 The H-1B backlash explained 32:58 Zero immigration and the fertility problem 34:05 Anti-Indian sentiment in Australia 35:40 Is Sydney's housing crisis about immigration? 38:30 The chapter Zoe couldn't finish 39:12 Are you an elite? Take the test 41:28 The Manosphere, and what a "chud" is 44:14 Nine-fifty in the morning in Sydney 46:32 The thinkers behind the book 48:15 AI, fertility, and what frightens him most 50:50 Why nobody's pairing up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • August 21 · 1 hr 14 min

    The Truth About the Gender Pay Gap with David Maywald

    Author David Maywald joins Zoe Sankey to discuss the female wage premium among young Australians, the collapse of male rites of passage, and why boys are told from primary school that masculinity is a problem to be managed. His essay for Quillette: https://quillette.com/2026/05/05/the-emerging-female-wage-premium/ The Relentless War on Masculinity: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1764339703?tag=quillette-20 00:00 Young women are out-earning young men 04:48 Why boys never got the same lift 11:14 The post-war family was the anomaly 15:12 Childlessness and a stake in the next generation 22:03 The rites of passage boys no longer have 28:49 Why it's rites, plural 36:58 100 of the Best Books for Men 45:21 Where the bias against boys begins 48:20 Why only 17% of primary teachers are men 55:19 What young men actually think 1:00:01 Abbie Chatfield and the podcast that started this one 1:10:12 Male psychology: the next frontier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • August 6 · 1 hr 14 min

    Crémieux on Fertility Collapse, Ozempic, IQ & Why Pit Bulls Are the Way They Are

    Zoe Sankey sits down with Crémieux (the pen name of researcher Jordan Lasker), the formerly anonymous X writer-researcher whose data threads on genetics, demographics and metabolic drugs have drawn a following of more than 260,000 — including some very prominent readers. It's a wide-ranging conversation. They cover collapsing fertility rates and the Victorian obscenity trial he argues helped set them falling; his case that dog breeds — pit bulls especially — behave the way they were bred to, and why he thinks people resist that; what he makes of the evidence on GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and retatrutide, microplastics, and the wellness industry; El Salvador's transformation under Nayib Bukele; IQ testing, genetics and embryo selection; populism, personality and politics; free will; and being Jewish and atheist at once. ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 Intro — who Crémieux is and how he built his following 02:24 Fertility collapse and the Bradlaugh–Besant trial 05:00 Silphium, abortion and the long human history of family planning 06:00 Strong convictions, and why he wants to live forever 07:49 Brian Johnson, longevity and the wellness-hype problem 10:56 Microplastics: what the evidence actually shows 13:24 Zinc, Accutane and the biology of acne 18:08 Ivermectin, Demodex mites and skin 20:22 Pet rats, lab rats, and which animals we call "cute" 22:56 UFOs and the Trump-era document releases 25:11 Pit bulls: breeding, behaviour and public denial 30:06 Ira Glass, greyhounds and virtue-signal dog ownership 34:11 GLP-1 drugs: Ozempic, retatrutide and the medical turnaround 36:00 His own weight loss, muscle and travel-for-work 37:57 Próspera, El Salvador and Bukele's gang crackdown 42:49 Duterte, Hanania's Kakistocracy and populism 45:42 IQ, classical liberalism and organising society 47:12 China, dumping, open-source AI and pharmaceutical free-riding 50:36 Tariffs and the destination-based cash flow tax 51:49 Hope, ageing, and the generational wealth question 55:14 Truth-seeking, reform, and why people don't change their minds 56:46 Jewishness, identity and defining who counts as a Jew 59:11 Antisemitism, zero-sum thinking and its long tradition 1:01:05 The future of Israel and the Hilonim birth rate 1:04:04 IQ tests, Mensa and gaming the matrices 1:05:27 Embryo selection and raising smart kids 1:08:36 Nature, nurture and what mothers influence 1:09:20 Politics shaping personality — and the La Piere study 1:14:30 The Big Five, intelligence and conscientiousness 1:18:14 Free will: Pinker vs. Harris 1:20:38 The name "Crémieux" and Adolphe Crémieux 1:21:59 Wrap-up — 📩 Subscribe to Quillette: https://quillette.com 🎧 Listen on Apple & Spotify 🐦 Follow Quillette: https://twitter.com/Quillette — Guest: Crémieux — https://x.com/cremieuxrecueil | Substack: https://cremieux.xyz — Referenced in this episode: • Rob Brooks, "The Tragedy of the Unwanted Child" (Quillette) — https://quillette.com/2022/06/24/the-tragedy-of-the-unwanted-child-what-ancient-cultures-did-before-abortion/ • The Bradlaugh–Besant trial (1877) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradlaugh%E2%80%93Besant_trial • Richard Hanania, Kakistocracy — https://link.amazon/B0g92Tesm • Herasight (embryo screening) — https://www.herasight.com • Orchid (embryo screening) — https://www.orchidhealth.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • July 22 · 1 hr 19 min

    Why Ireland Became Europe's Most Antisemitic Country | Rachel Moiselle

    Rachel Moiselle is a PhD candidate at Trinity College Dublin and one of Ireland's most visible activists against antisemitism. In this episode of Quillette Cetera, she joins Zoe Sankey to discuss what it's like to defend a community of roughly 3,000 Jews in a country that largely denies it has an antisemitism problem at all. Rachel talks candidly about the ignorance surrounding Jewish culture in Ireland, how left-wing ideology has shaped anti-Israel sentiment and political discourse, and why Irish national identity has become entangled with the Palestinian cause. She also shares a very different side of her work: her research into Irish Sign Language, deaf culture, and the role AI translation technology plays for a minority language community, and how that experience shaped her thinking on identity and belonging more broadly. The conversation moves through her own path toward converting to Judaism, the friendships she's gained and lost since October 7th, the online abuse that followed her Sunday Independent article, and why she still believes speaking up is worth the cost. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and guest background 02:30 Antisemitism in Ireland: perceptions and realities 08:02 The Irish Jewish community: size, ignorance, and challenges 11:57 Denial of antisemitism and its consequences 13:57 The influence of left-wing ideology and anti-Israel sentiment 17:00 Irish national identity, flags, and cultural symbolism 20:57 Ireland's history, independence, and reunification debates 24:12 The role of the EU and language education in Ireland 30:09 Language revival, Irish Sign Language, and cultural identity 37:03 Deaf community, minority identity, and activism 41:08 Technology, sign language translation, and deaf culture 46:02 Jewish identity, conversion, and community engagement 1:03:51 Friendship, loss, and personal resilience 1:14:00 Social media, online abuse, and activism 1:24:05 Future outlook, hope, and community support Guest: Rachel Moiselle on X: https://twitter.com/RachelMoiselle More from Quillette: Read Quillette: https://quillette.com Follow us on X: https://x.com/Quillette Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quillette Subscribe to Quillette Cetera for more conversations on free speech, identity, and the ideas shaping public life. #Antisemitism #Ireland #JewishCommunity #Quillette #IrishPolitics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • #68
    July 3 · 1 hr 5 min

    The NGO Industrial Complex: Gerald Steinberg on How Human Rights Became a Racket

    NGOs have a great deal of influence over our lives. This episode uncovers the hidden power structures behind the world's most powerful non-governmental organisations — and why they deserve far more scrutiny than they get. Zoe Sankey sits down with Gerald Steinberg — founder of NGO Monitor and professor emeritus of political science at Bar-Ilan University — to discuss the evolution of NGOs from altruistic civil society groups into political powerhouses, the funding sources and transparency issues within organisations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, and how they've come to shape the UN and international policy on Israel. "Ken Roth is hugely powerful as an individual." "Their reports often lack substantive verification." Gerald pulls back the curtain on how civil society was hijacked by political and ideological agendas, case studies of NGOs with alleged ties to governments and terrorist organisations, the UN accreditation process and what it really takes to get a seat at the table, and the power dynamics inside these organisations' leadership. 00:00 Introduction to Gerald Steinberg and His Work 02:56 Understanding NGOs: Definitions and Historical Context 06:07 The Evolution and Influence of NGOs 09:06 The Political Landscape of NGOs 12:05 NGO Monitor: Purpose and Function 15:00 The Power Dynamics within NGOs 18:06 Whistleblowers and Internal Critiques 20:52 The Future of NGOs and Their Impact 31:46 The Influence of NGOs on Global Politics 35:14 The Halo Effect: Media and NGO Relationships 40:27 The Writing and Impact of NGO Reports 50:12 The Future of NGOs and the UN 57:49 Zionism: Misunderstood and Maligned Read Gerald Steinberg's full body of work at Quillette: 👉 https://quillette.com/author/gerald-steinberg/ Resources: — NGO Monitor: https://www.ngo-monitor.org — UN Watch: https://www.unwatch.org — The War of Return by Einat Wilf: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1594039624?tag=quillette-20 Follow NGO Monitor: — Twitter/X: https://x.com/NGOMonitor — Website: https://www.ngo-monitor.org Subscribe to Quillette Cetera for more fearless conversations wherever you get your podcasts, and head to Quillette.com for the stories mainstream media won't touch. #NGO #HumanRights #Amnesty #UnitedNations #Israel #Quillette Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • #66
    June 29 · 1 hr 9 min

    Oikophobia: Why the West Hates Itself | Benedict Beckeld

    What does it mean for a civilisation to turn against itself? In this episode, Quillette's Zoe Sankey speaks with philosopher and author Benedict Beckeld — whose 2019 Quillette essay on oikophobia remains one of our site's most popular pieces — about the recurring historical phenomenon he has spent his career documenting: the tendency of successful Western societies to denigrate their own culture, institutions, and inheritance. Drawing on his book Oikophobia: Our Western Self-Hatred, published by Cornell University Press, Beckeld traces the pattern from ancient Athens and Imperial Rome to contemporary Europe and the Anglosphere, arguing that cultural self-repudiation is not a modern aberration but a predictable feature of prosperous, secure civilisations. The conversation ranges widely: the assimilability of Islam, the distinction between monoethnicity and monoculturalism, the demographic significance of Israel, the theological differences between the three Abrahamic religions, and the question of whether the West can recover its civilisational confidence before external pressures force the issue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • June 9 · 1 hr 12 min

    Hava Mendelle: From Climate Activist to Critic of Radical Left and Gaza Flotilla

    Hava Mendelle defies easy categorisation. Openly gay and proudly Jewish, she is a fifteen-year Australian Army veteran, emergency department nurse, published author, and co-founder of Minority Impact — a coalition of Australian minorities united in their opposition to Islamic radicalism and far-left extremism. She writes for The Spectator Australia, The Times of Israel, and The Jewish Independent, and has been making waves on social media for her unflinching commentary on antisemitism, the activist left, and the slow erosion of Australian national identity.In this conversation with Quillette's Zoe Sankey, Hava traces a remarkable personal journey — from an orthodox Jewish childhood and boarding school in Israel, to climate activism and Marxist study groups at university, to her current role as one of Australia's most clear-eyed critics of the movements she once moved in. They discuss the red-green alliance, the activists behind the Gaza flotilla, the radicalisation of the Australian Greens, why the United Nations deserves far more scepticism than it receives, and what October 7th changed — for Hava personally, and for Jewish Australians more broadly Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • May 22 · 1 hr 4 min

    Australia's Broken Justice System with Andrew Bushnell

    Zoe Sankey speaks with Andrew Bushnell — policy researcher, criminal justice expert, and fellow at the Institute of Public Affairs — about crime, justice, and some of the most urgent and uncomfortable questions in Australian public life. They start with the alleged murder of Kumunjayi, a five-year-old Aboriginal girl killed in the Northern Territory despite six child protection notifications in the two months before her death. What follows is a frank conversation about Indigenous offending rates, a justice system that too often fails its victims, and whether Australia has the political courage to apply its laws equally to everyone. Along the way: the Voice to Parliament, the Bao Phuc Cao voyeurism case, Melbourne's graffiti-covered streets, and the gang warfare driving a billion-dollar black market in cigarettes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • May 7 · 1 hr 15 min

    Does Western Civilisation Exist? James Kierstead on Ancient Greece, Christianity, and the West

    Does Western civilisation actually exist — or is it just a modern political myth? In this episode of the Quillette Cetera podcast, Zoe Booth speaks with classicist James Kierstead about the origins of the West, the “Greek miracle,” Christianity, monogamy, democracy, and the cultural foundations of modern civilisation. They discuss: Whether the West is real or an invented concept Ancient Greece and the origins of egalitarianism Why monogamy shaped Western civilisation Protestant guilt and modern culture Honour cultures vs dignity cultures Christianity, Judaism, and Greco-Roman civilisation Why the Industrial Revolution happened in the West Whether Western civilisation can survive without Christianity James Kierstead holds a BA in Classics from Oxford and a PhD in Political Science from Stanford University. #WesternCivilization #AncientGreece #Christianity #History #Civilization #Quillette #Philosophy #Politics #JamesKierstead Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • February 20 · 57 min

    Oikophobia and the Crisis of Western Democracy with Shany Mor

    In this conversation, Zoe Booth and Shany Mor discuss the complex interplay between Australia's reputation in relation to Israel, the impact of anti-Israel activism, and the cultural and intellectual anxieties that contribute to anti-Semitism. They explore the role of guilt in Western society, the challenges of identity and belonging in multicultural contexts, and the evolution of political discourse. The discussion also touches on the dynamics of radicalization, the nature of prejudice, and the future of democracy, particularly in the context of Israeli society and global fertility rates. Chapters 00:00 Australia's Protests and Israel's Perception 05:47 Understanding Anti-Israel Sentiment 07:58 The Role of Intellectualism in Anti-Semitism 10:27 Cultural Anxiety and Scapegoating 12:53 Oikophobia and Western Guilt 15:35 Moral Accounting and Identity Politics 18:04 The Impact of 9/11 on Western Discourse 20:27 Feminism and Cultural Symbols 23:01 The Transformation of Western Society 25:39 Radicalization and Immigrant Perspectives 28:14 The Role of Western Elites in Anti-Semitism 30:46 Media Narratives and Perceptions of Violence 30:54 Understanding Jewish Identity and Community Challenges 33:14 The Impact of Anti-Zionism on Academia 35:22 Cultural Myths and Their Influence on Society 36:59 Exploring Fertility Rates and Societal Values 42:08 Democracy in Crisis: The Referendum on Truth 47:56 The Legacy of the Post-War Order and Its Challenges Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • #60
    January 14 · 1 hr 8 min

    Adam Louis-Klein on Why He Founded the Movement Against Antizionism

    In this conversation, Zoe Booth and Adam Louis-Klein delve into the complexities of antizionism, exploring its ideological roots, the language used to propagate it, and its normalisation in contemporary society. They discuss the formation of the Movement Against Antizionism (MAAZ) and the importance of recognising antizionism as a distinct form of bigotry. The dialogue also addresses the historical context of antizionism, its evolution in academia, and the psychological warfare embedded in its rhetoric. Throughout, practical strategies are offered for countering antizionist claims—emphasising the need for clarity, courage, and a comprehensive understanding of the issue. Adam Louis-Klein is an anthropologist and PhD candidate at McGill University. His research focuses on Indigenous cosmologies in the Colombian Amazon and comparative forms of peoplehood. He is the founder of the Movement Against Antizionism (MAAZ), which challenges antizionist ideology as a distinct form of anti-Jewish hatred. His writing and advocacy explore the intersection of academic discourse, identity, and political propaganda. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Adam Louis-Klein and MAAZ 04:00 Interview begins: The Birth of MAAZ and Antizionism 09:10 Language and the Inversion of Reality 11:28 The Evolution of Antizionism 14:08 The Role of Academia in Antizionism 16:55 The Historical Context of Antizionism 19:21 Modern Antizionism and Its Global Impact 21:43 Government Responses to Antizionism 24:33 Understanding Antizionism vs. Antisemitism 27:18 The Psychological Mechanisms Behind Antizionism 29:50 The Australian Context of Antizionism 31:56 Personal Reflections on Antizionism and Academia 38:37 Indigeneity and Cultural Identity 42:22 The Complexity of Genocide Narratives 48:13 Understanding Whiteness and Cultural Concerns 52:47 Historical Atrocities and Political Violence 55:45 The Organisation of Antizionist Movements 01:04:58 The Movement Against Antizionism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Dec 12, 2025 · 1 hr 20 min

    How Audience Capture Fuels Antisemitism, Identity Politics, and Anti-Israel Hysteria | Corey Walker

    From algorithmic incentives to progressive posturing, this episode explores how anti-Semitism has become a feature—not a bug—of influencer culture. Zoe Booth speaks with Corey Walker, a Washington, D.C.-based reporter focusing on the Middle East and global terror groups, about audience capture, the anti-Western project of the modern Left, and why Israel represents values worth conserving. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Dec 12, 2025 · 1 hr 15 min

    Exposing the Qatar Lobby: Chama Mechtaly on Islamism, Censorship, and the West

    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 she contributed to shaping cultural frameworks for regional integration in the wake of normalisation agreements. In today’s conversation, we discuss her recent Quillette essay examining Qatar’s ideological reach into Western institutions, the suppression of critical voices, and the broader ambitions of Islamist movements on the global stage. Drawing from her lived experience across Morocco, the Gulf, and the United States, Chama reflects on how Islamist actors have appropriated the language of democracy to undermine liberal values from within. What emerges is a sobering analysis of the soft power networks quietly reshaping our political and cultural institutions—and the steep cost of looking the other way. We also explore how culture is weaponised, how the West has failed to confront these forces, and what a path toward genuine peace and pluralism in the Middle East might look like. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • #58
    Nov 29, 2025 · 1 hr

    How Foreign Funding Is Shaping Australia’s Energy Debate: Gerard Holland

    Zoe Booth speaks with Gerard Holland, CEO of the Page Research Centre and a founding member of the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship. Together they explore how foreign funding is shaping Australia’s energy policy, what’s driving the rising cost of living, and why ideological commitments to renewables may be undermining the country’s economic and strategic resilience. Holland argues that Australia’s transition to green energy has been distorted by international interests, bad economics, and an aversion to politically unpopular technologies like nuclear power. Drawing on original research submitted to a federal Senate inquiry, he makes the case for a return to energy realism—and warns that unless we regain control of our policy decisions, Australia’s prosperity and security may be at risk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • #56
    Oct 31, 2025 · 54 min

    Why Do Women Orgasm? With Evolutionary Psychologist Robert King

    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 neurobiological mechanisms behind pleasure, and why evolutionary frameworks are still resisted in mainstream discourse. The discussion ranges widely, touching on female–female competition, the contested status of female ejaculation in both science and society, and the moral panic that often greets biological explanations for sex differences. Throughout, King makes the case for a more honest, curiosity-driven approach to understanding female behaviour—one that neither denies biology nor reduces it to determinism. His latest book Naturally Selective: Evolution, Orgasm, and Female Choice is available in paperback, hardcover or Kindle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Oct 2, 2025 · 1 hr 41 min

    How Intrasexual Competition Suppresses Female Fertility with Dr Dani Sukilowski

    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 of modern mating preferences, the unintended consequences of social narratives around motherhood and career, and the cultural implications of pronatalist and antenatalist ideologies. They also discuss contentious issues such as surrogacy, abortion, and assisted dying—all within the context of civilisational health and long-term population sustainability. This episode offers a thought-provoking examination of the forces shaping human behaviour, fertility, and the future of Western societies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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